Gaming Act 1968

20 Special provisions as to bingo clubs

(1) This section applies to any club specified in a licence under this Act where, by virtue of any restrictions which, on the grant or renewal of the licence, were imposed under paragraph 25 of Schedule 2 to this Act and are for the time being in force, gaming to which Part II of this Act applies is limited to the playing of bingo ; and in this Part of this Act " bingo club premises " means premises in respect of which a licence under this Act is for the time being in force, where the club specified in the licence is one to which this section applies.

(2) Where a game of bingo is played simultaneously on different bingo club premises in circumstances where—

(a) all the players take part in the same game at the same time and all are present at that time on one or other of those premises, and

(b) the draw takes place on one or other of those premises while the game is being played, and

(c) any claim of one of the players to have won is indicated to all the other players before the next number is called,

then, if the conditions specified in the next following subsection are fulfilled, section 12(1) of this Act shall have effect in relation to that game as if those different premises were the same premises.

(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (2) of this section, in relation to a game of bingo played simultaneously on different premises, are that—

(a) the aggregate amount paid to players as winnings in respect of that game does not exceed the aggregate amount of the stakes hazarded by the players in playing that game, and

(b) the aggregate amount paid to players as winnings in respect of that game, together with the aggregate amount paid to players as winnings in respect of all games of bingo which, in the circumstances specified in that subsection, have previously been played in the same week and have been so played on premises consisting of, or including any of, those premises, does not exceed £1,000.

(4) Where subsection (2) of this section has effect in relation to a game of bingo played simultaneously on different premises, then, for the purposes of the application of subsections (2) and (3) of section 12 of this Act in relation to each of those premises, regard shall be had only to such of the players as are present on those particular premises.

(5) In relation to any club to which this section applies, section 12(3) of this Act shall have effect as if—

(a) in paragraph (a) the words from " he was admitted " to " the premises in question, and " were omitted, and for the words " forty-eight hours " there were substituted the words " twenty-four hours ", and

(b) paragraph (b) were omitted.

(6) In relation to gaming which takes place on bingo club premises section 17 of this Act shall not have effect so as to prevent persons under eighteen from being present in any room while a game of bingo is played there, if they do not take part in the game as players.

(7) In relation to any bingo club premises, section 19 of this Act shall have effect as if, in subsection (2) of that section, for the words from " and consists of " to the end of the subsection, there were substituted the words " and is a function of a kind prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this subsection ".

(8) Without prejudice to the operation (where applicable) of subsections (2) to (4) of this section, the aggregate amount paid to players as winnings in respect of all games of bingo played in any one week on any particular bingo club premises shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the stakes hazarded by the players in playing those games by more than £250 :

Provided that the Secretary of State may by order provide that this subsection shall have effect with the substitution, for the reference to £250, of a reference to such other sum as may be specified in the order.

(9) In this section " week " means a period of seven days beginning with Monday, any reference to an aggregate amount shall be construed as including a reference to an aggregate value in money's worth, and any reference to an aggregate amount paid shall be construed accordingly.