TLDR The UK Gambling Commission is tightening rules on non-compliant gaming machines and ramping up enforcement against illegal land-based gambling. From 29 July 2026, operators must immediately remove gaming machines that lack proper licences or fail technical standards. The UK government has allocated £26 million over three years to help the Commission tackle illegal gambling in land-based venues. New survey data shows 3.3% of British adults played bingo in 2024, with total bingo gross gambling yield hitting £816 million. Two-thirds of land-based bingo revenue comes from gaming machines rather than bingo games themselves.
The UK Gambling Commission has laid out plans to crack down on non-compliant gaming machines and illegal gambling operations across the country. The announcement was made at the Bingo Association’s annual general meeting on 7 May.
Acting chief executive Sarah Gardner delivered the news, outlining a strategy that pairs cooperation with licensed operators alongside tougher enforcement measures. She stressed that working with the industry has already produced results.
“We know what we can achieve through our powers, but we know that we can achieve a whole lot more for our objectives by working with those in industry who are willing to work with us,” Gardner said.
Gardner praised outgoing Bingo Association chief executive Miles Baron for a decade of engagement. She also welcomed his replacement, Nicole Garrett, who pledged to maintain the collaborative relationship.
One area where that partnership has paid off is in improving gambling participation data. Some operators had previously questioned the accuracy of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain’s estimates on bingo player numbers.
New Survey Data Paints Clearer Picture of Bingo Participation
To address those concerns, the Commission and the Bingo Association worked together to add a new survey question. The goal was to identify more precisely where people were