Gambling on future of pub bingo
One unforeseen effect of the changes in licensing laws will be a consequent change in responsibility for pub gaming.
From 24 November, if you want to provide games other than dominoes and cribbage for money, you will have to apply to the licensing authority of the local council for permission, rather than the licensing justices, as now.
Over the past few years, there has been a great deal more interest in pubs running bingo sessions, in order to boost attendance (and thereby bar sales). Bingo, being a game of chance, requires permission to be run on licensed premises, and, up until now, the Gaming Board, which has controlled and advised on gaming issues since 1968, has counselled magistrates to be cautious about bingo in pubs.
Its Memorandum of Advice to licensing justices says where bingo acts as an inducement to persons to visit premises primarily to take part in gaming, then it should not be permitted.
Pubs have been successful in obtaining permission where it has been shown it was to be played, for example, by a pensioners' group as part of their own entertainment and was not being used as a marketing tool by the management.
The Gaming Board, alas, is no more. Last Saturday it was superseded by the new Gambling Commission, as several parts of the Gambling Act 2005 were brought into effect.
But its advice will presumably be passed on in some form to the local authorities, in time for the rush of applications. However, on its new website, the news is not good. It contains the doom-laden sentence: 'It appears to the Gambling Commission inappropriate that bingo should be played in public houses.'
Clearly that is just an opinion, and there will be exceptions. But it is still possible to apply to the licensing justices for gaming permission under section 6 of the Gaming Act 1968 â " as long as you do it before 24 November.
After that, you will have to throw yourself on the mercy of the licensing authority, and who knows what the councillors will decide on this issue.
Remember, too, that machine permits will also be handled by the council in future.
They already handle amusement arcades and other premises, but it is not known what their attitude will be to requests for an increase in machine numbers. We shall have to wait and see.
