Published: 16 February 2021
What is Prize Gaming?
Most forms of Prize Gaming take the form of Prize Bingo and is operated in licensed bingo halls, adult gaming centres, licensed and unlicensed family entertainment centres, and travelling fairs.
Prize gaming is regulated and licensed under the Gambling Act 2005 and the gaming is structured to ensure that neither the nature or size of the prize is determined by the number of people playing or amount raised from the gaming. Prizes are fixed in advance of the gaming, which is subject to strict limits:
- Maximum fee that may be charged for any one chance to win a prize is capped at £1;
- Maximum of £500 can be take n in participation fees for a particular game (500 people each paying £1);
- A money prize cannot exceed £70;
- The maximum total value of prizes per game cannot exceed £500;
- All prizes must be allocated on the day of the gaming.
Operators may obtain a Prize Gaming Permit from their local Council Licensing Authorities to permit this form of gaming in their venues.
If you have any questions about the laws surrounding this – or anything else related to gambling legislation – drop a line to one of our specialist licensing solicitors. Solicitor Nick Arron is the head of the team.
