Recent statistics from the UK Gambling Commission reveal a concerning trend in the bingo sector, with gaming machines generating significant revenue compared to traditional bingo games. For the year ending March 2026, licensed bingo premises saw their gaming machines yield £461.7 million, overshadowing the £242.1 million derived from actual bingo games. This means machines accounted for nearly two-thirds of the sector's total gross gambling yield of £703.8 million.
The numbers illustrate a clear upward trajectory for gaming machines in bingo venues, with their revenue increasing from around £293 million in 2019-20 to £462 million in 2025-26—an impressive rise of 57%. Furthermore, revenue from Category B machines, which allow for higher stakes, surged from about £197 million to £361 million during the same period.
As a result, Category B machines represented approximately 78% of total bingo machine revenue last year, up from 67% just a few years earlier.
While these figures suggest that machines play an increasingly crucial role in traditional bingo clubs, they also mask a transformative shift within the industry. More bingo licenses are being granted to establishments that mirror adult gaming centers (AGCs), which primarily feature gaming machines.
In an October 2025 government consultation, it was acknowledged that there was a rising number of bingo venues that predominantly operated gaming machines, making them difficult to distinguish from AGCs. In some instances, these venues displayed machines as their primary attraction, leaving minimal room for actual bingo games.
Data from the Gambling Commission indicates that for operators identified as high-street bingo venues, less than 1% of their gross gambling yield comes from bingo games, with the vast majority—99%—stemming from gaming machines. This contrasts sharply with traditional bingo operators, where bingo contributes about 51% of their revenue.
To explore this further, iGB reviewed licensee data for Merkur Slots. Of its 340 venues, 227 were classified as bingo venues while only 106 were recognized as AGCs. Observations from Google Street View indicate these so-called bingo venues operate similarly to AGCs, with signage mentioning "bingo played here" but functioning primarily as gaming machine establishments.
There is also a growing middle ground between traditional bingo and AGCs, where smaller venues combine bingo offerings with an array of machines, appealing to a diverse audience without replicating the typical bingo hall model. The challenge for regulators lies in differentiating genuine innovation in the sector from operations that merely masquerade under a bingo license.
Under the Gambling Commission's social responsibility code, licensed bingo premises must provide "substantive facilities" for non-remote bingo. However, the term "substantive" is not clearly defined, leaving ambiguity about the physical space allocated to bingo, the number of customers that can participate, or the revenue percentage derived from bingo activities.
The lack of a statutory minimum for bingo seating means that some venues can operate with minimal bingo presence while still holding a license. Electronic bingo terminals further complicate this landscape, allowing the same device to offer both bingo and gaming machine content, blurring the lines of what constitutes a bona fide bingo operation.
Clarifying the licensing implications is vital. Both bingo venues and AGCs can host limited categories of higher-stake gaming machines. However, licensed bingo locations can offer exclusive forms of bingo not permitted in AGCs, which also highlights the regulatory importance of accurate categorization.
The risk profiles associated with in-person bingo versus machine gambling differ significantly. Survey data suggests higher rates of problem gambling are linked with machine play compared to land-based bingo. The government has recognized this, noting that establishments primarily offering machines carry a fundamentally different risk profile compared to those emphasizing traditional bingo.
The trend is concerning as the number of registered traditional bingo clubs has plummeted from 335 in December 2018 to 248 as of August 2024. Meanwhile, the total number of bingo premises has grown, primarily driven by the rise of smaller venues that resemble AGCs. The distribution of revenue between games and machines has also shifted, with machines making up 44% of the licensed bingo sector’s gross gambling yield in March 2014, which increased to 65.6% by March 2026.
The government's consultation suggested implementing a clearly defined bingo area within each licensed venue, proposing stricter requirements for how much space must be devoted to bingo, with options including 30%, 40%, or 50% of the premises. Additionally, a minimum number of seating positions for bingo was discussed to ensure adequate recognition of bingo as a viable offering. This would likely force venues leaning heavily towards machines to reconsider their setups and could potentially push some towards obtaining AGC licenses instead.
The ongoing examination of this landscape has raised questions about how to redefine these categories effectively. A lack of clarity in current legislation leaves a broad spectrum of establishments—from bustling bingo clubs in city centers to niche venues prioritizing gaming machines—under a single licensing category. The government acknowledges the complicated overlap that exists and faces the challenge of distinguishing AGCs from traditional bingo halls without stifling innovation or legitimate hybrid business models.
