Online Bingo

online bingo

What is Online bingo?

There is no legal definition of the game of bingo, or a standard set of rules under which the game is played. However, the game and its rules have evolved to the point where, despite the absence of any formal industry standard, the way in which bingo is played is broadly similar throughout Great Britain. Bingo is equal chance gaming.

It is worth noting that although there is no statutory definition, the Gambling Commission has published our view of what bingo is and how it differs from other forms of gambling.  This can be found in the advice note ‘What constitutes bingo’.  This advice was developed with the support of key stakeholders from the Bingo industry.

What constitutes online bingo?

Bingo is a traditional form of gambling that has seen considerable innovation in recent years. It is also the only form of gambling recognised in the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) that does not have a specific statutory definition, the Act providing simply that ‘bingo’ means ‘any version of that game, irrespective of by what name it is described’. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) has no desire to change the position set out by Parliament.

However, in the light of rapid and expanding product development and innovation in the sector, we consider it important to provide some clarity as to where we consider the boundaries between bingo and other forms of gambling lie. The Commission therefore offers the advice in this note to help bingo operators avoid creating and offering products that we consider to be casino games, lotteries or fixed odds betting.

Introduction

The Commission has, both before and since the coming into force of the Act, received many enquiries from both the ‘traditional’ bingo industry and from new entrants, or potential new entrants to the market, about new game formats proposed to be offered as bingo in bingo licensed premises. It has also had correspondence with The Bingo Association about what constitutes bingo. Whilst only the courts can provide a definitive interpretation of the law, the Commission considers it helpful to publish this advice note setting out its views as to the essential requirements for a gambling product to be recognised as bingo.

In the context of this advice, it should also be noted that, as well as providing bingo, holders of bingo premises licences may, by virtue of section 291 of the Act, also offer facilities for prize gaming1 provided such gaming complies with the conditions attached to all bingo operating licences by the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No. 2257) which impose limits on both participation fees and prizes.

Bingo itself, whilst traditionally played for a prize pool comprising players’ stakes less participation fees, may also be played for a set prize or prizes determined neither by reference to the number of persons playing nor the amount paid for or raised by the gaming, and therefore in a format which meets the definition of prize gaming. Such a bingo format, especially when played for modest prizes, is often referred to as ‘prize bingo’. But bingo of this type also meets the essential requirements set out below and consequently, unlike other types of gaming, may be offered in bingo licensed premises without the need for reliance on the specific permission contained in section 291 and thus without having to comply with the participation fee and prize limits laid down in the 2007 Regulations. 1 Gambling Act 2005 section 288 – Meaning of ‘prize gaming’ Gaming is prize gaming for the purposes of this Act if neither the nature nor the size of a prize played for is determined by reference to– (a) The number of persons playing, or (b) The amount paid for or raised by the gaming. Victoria Square House Victoria Square Birmingham B2 4BP T 0121 230 6666 F 0121 230 6720 www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Gambling Commission Advice note – what constitutes bingo?

Fundamental principles of bingo

In its historic development, bingo is essentially a lottery played as a game. Although dated, a good starting point in understanding the characteristics of bingo is its description in the 1978 Royal Commission Report: ‘Bingo is a lottery played as a game. Each player receives for his stake a set of numbers which he has not chosen. These are marked off against numbers selected at random and announced by a caller, and the winner is the person who can first substantiate a claim to have marked off all those, or a particular section of those, in the set he has been given.’ 3.2 The Act distinguishes bingo from casino gaming. It provides in section 65 for separate casino and bingo operating licences and, in section 68(3), excludes bingo from the ‘other games of chance’ that a casino operating licence authorises its holder to provide.

Against this background and following consultation with a wide range of bingo industry stakeholders, the Commission considers there are three fundamental principles of bingo. These principles are:

  • bingo must be played as an equal chance game
  • bingo must involve a degree of participation and
  • bingo games must have a clearly defined end point.

Further information regarding the Commission’s view of each of these principles is set out in the following paragraphs. Online Bingo must be played as an equal chance game

In order for a game to be classed as ‘bingo’ it must meet the Act’s definition (in section 8) of ‘equal chance gaming’ (as opposed to casino gaming). Thus, it: a) must not involve playing or staking against a bank, and b) must be a game in which the chances are equally favourable to all participants in the sense that each ticket or chance has the same probability of success as any other.

The Commission sees no objection to players in bingo being able to select some, or indeed all, of their numbers provided there is a mechanism to ensure that each player nevertheless has a unique set of numbers and the game therefore remains equal chance. We also consider that fixed odds bingo games are acceptable provided they are structured to ensure there is no banker’s interest.

The Commission has produced a note addressing what it considers constitutes a banker’s game and how equal chance gaming can be distinguished from it. This can be found at Annex A. Bingo must involve a degree of participation

To distinguish an online bingo game from a straight lottery, a player must be required to participate in order to be successful. Participation could, and traditionally does, take the form of human interaction with the game, ie: players actively marking their cards and/or claiming to have won. Alternatively, as is often the case in modern bingo formats, especially when played on-line, by means of bingo machines or hand-held devices, technology can be used to act as the participant’s agent in playing out the game which the player has initiated. In this way participation can be made up of a combination of activity taking place both within the mechanic of the game and by the player’s own actions.

Bingo games where the winning numbers are pre-selected are acceptable, provided that those numbers are subsequently called or displayed. 2 Gambling Commission Advice note – what constitutes bingo? Bingo must have a clearly defined end point

A fundamental element of a game of online bingo, as with any game, is that it needs to end at a predetermined designated point or time. This end point needs to be appropriate, realistic and clearly communicated to players. The period within which a player is able to claim a prize should be factored into the timeframe of the game; determining who has won is part of the game.

Further guidance

In June 2009 the Commission published a document entitled Key characteristics of bingo, which had particular relevance to bingo played on bingo machines and which bingo industry stakeholders have said they found helpful. A copy of that document, as updated and revised in the light of more recent discussions with such stakeholders, is reproduced at Annex B.

The Commission has, of course, separately set technical standards and equipment requirements for remote and non-remote bingo respectively with which, as a condition of their licences, operators must comply

link-building-2-xxl What is Online Bingo 

Online Bingo
2.8 (55%) 8 votes

Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions

Welcome Bonus Offer
500% First Deposit

1. This Deposit Bonus is a 500% Match based on a New Customer’s first deposit at Betway Bingo.
(example: deposit £10 and receive a £50 Bonus – total account balance = £60)
2. This offer is valid from Thursday 31st  December 2014. The promotion is only valid for 7 days from the date and time of registration.

3. The Promotion ID for this offer is 51248.

4. This offer is split between a 400% Bingo Bonus (Bbz) Match and a 100% Casino Bonus Match.

5. This offer is only valid for selected New Customers and must be claimed within 7 days of Registration.
6. To qualify for a 500% First Deposit Bonus, a minimum of £5 must be deposited at Betway Bingo within 7 days of registration.

500% First Deposit Bonus & Free Spins Welcome Bonus – General Terms
1. Existing customers and customers who register a duplicate Betway Bingo account are not eligible to receive this offer.

2. The Welcome Bonus is only permitted once per person, household, family, IP address, household address, email address, credit card number or shared computer environment (example: a library, workplace, fraternity, university or school). Betway Bingo reserves the right to void all winnings and play should this term be disregarded.

3. The Welcome Bonus is only valid to the person who registers the Account. The offer is not transferable.

4. The Welcome Bonus may not be claimed in conjunction with ANY other promotions currently offered by Betway Bingo and is subject to on-going review. Betway Bingo reserves the right to amend this offer and its terms at any time, including the cancellation of the promotion.

5. Betway Bingo reserves the right to withhold or void a Welcome Bonus and/or its associated winnings should we believe that this offer is being abused or where irregular betting patterns are present. This includes any breach of these terms or if there is evidence that a Customer is using the Welcome Bonus or other promotional offers to guarantee profits regardless of the outcome.

6. All withdrawals will be subject to audit by Betway Bingo. Betway Bingo reserves the right to reclaim the Welcome Bonus and any winnings and/or close an account in a situation of obvious abuse or fraud.

7. The 100% Casino Bonus Match is subject to a fifty (50) times playthrough requirement before funds can be withdrawn.

8. Play at certain games will contribute a different percentage towards the playthrough requirement.

The contributing percentages are:
100% – all Slots and all Parlor Games
8% – all Table Pokers, all Roulettes, all Video/Power Pokers (except All Aces and Jacks or Better Video/Power Pokers), all Blackjacks (except Classic Blackjack) and Casino War
0% (excluded games) – Classic Blackjack, All Aces Video/Power Pokers, Jacks or Better Video/Power Pokers, all Baccarats, all Craps, Red Dog, 90 Ball Bingo, 75 Ball Bingo and Sic Bo
Should you play on the excluded games (0%) before meeting the playthrough requirement, you agree that Betway Bingo holds the right to void any winnings made from such games at its discretion.
Note: Playthrough (wagering) made using the Gamble Feature on Slots or the Double Feature on Video Pokers will not count towards playthrough requirements.
9. Casino Bonus Account terms and Bingo Bonus Account terms apply. Please refer to the BONUS ACCOUNTS – GENERAL TERMS section below.

BONUS ACCOUNTS – GENERAL TERMS
A Customer’s total account balance consists of a Cash Account, a Casino Bonus Account and a Bingo Bonus (Bbz) Account. Withdrawals cannot be made from either of the Bonus Accounts, but they can both be used to make wagers. The Bingo Bonus (Bbz) account can be used to purchase Bingo Game Tickets and the Casino Bonus Account can be used to place wagers on Casino games.

BINGO BONUS (Bbz) ACCOUNT TERMS
1. Any Bingo Game Ticket purchases are deducted from the Cash Account first. Should there be no cash available, the purchase is deducted from the Bingo Bonus (Bbz) Account. Funds in the Bingo Bonus (Bbz) Account are only played if there are insufficient credits in the Cash Account.
2. Bingo Winnings resulting from wagers made from the Cash Account and Bingo Bonus (Bbz) Account are credited directly to the Cash Account.
3. The maximum number of Bingo Game Tickets that can be purchased from the Bingo Bonus (Bbz) Account will be limited on a per game basis. Betway Bingo reserves the right to alter these ticket limits at any time without prior notification.

CASINO BONUS ACCOUNT TERMS
1. As the playthrough requirements are met, funds are automatically transferred from the Casino Bonus Account to the Cash Account – in increments of £10.
a) Playthrough is achieved when any real money wager is made on a non-bingo game.
b) Any wagers made are deducted from the Cash Account first. Should there be no cash available, the wager is deducted from the Casino Bonus Account. Funds in the Casino Bonus Account are only played if there are insufficient credits in the Cash Account.
c) Winnings resulting from wagers made from the Cash Account are credited directly to the Cash Account. Winnings resulting from wagers made from the Casino Bonus Account are credited back to the Casino Bonus Account.
d) If crediting a Casino Bonus Account with winnings results in the Casino Bonus Account balance exceeding the original bonus amount, any excess winnings are credited to the Cash Account. Note: this is less any automatic transfers that have occurred from the Casino Bonus Account to the Cash Account.
2. You will be unable to withdraw any amount from your Casino Account until you have either met the wagering requirements or played through all funds in the Casino Bonus Account to the Cash Account. Winnings on bets from the Casino Bonus Account, after the wagering requirements have been met, go straight to the Cash Account.

3. The Customer acknowledges that in order to be eligible for any promotions or Bonuses they must be playing with the primary currency used in the country where they have a registered address and are playing from. Should the primary currency not be available, play is permitted in USD or CAD or EUR. Note: only customers living in the UK are eligible to register a GBP account. Betway Bingo reserves the right to withhold any Bonuses and winnings resulting from deposits in any currency made in contradiction to this condition.
4. Before any withdrawals are processed, your play will be reviewed for any irregular playing patterns. In the interests of fair gaming, equal, zero or low margin bets or hedge betting, shall all be considered irregular gaming for Bonus playthrough requirement purposes. Other examples of irregular game play include but are not limited to, placing single bets equal to or in excess of 30% or more of the value of the Bonus credited to their account until such time as the wagering requirements for that Bonus have been met. Should Betway Bingo deem that irregular game play has occurred, the Casino reserves the right to withhold any withdrawals and/or confiscate all winnings.
5. Where a New Customer Offer has been granted to you, once all stipulated wagering requirements have been met, you will be limited to a maximum withdrawal value of 6 times your first deposit amount and any remaining balance will be forfeited. This clause will only be applied at the discretion of Betway Bingo management. Note: Progressive Jackpot wins are exempt from this clause.
6. Betway Bingo reserves the right to limit withdrawals from any free Casino or Bingo Bonus/free games/free spins added to a customer’s account to £100. This limit will apply should a Bonus be granted with no deposit being made unless specifically stated otherwise in the promotional offer.
Betway Bingo considers all the above Terms to be fair. Should you require any clarification or advice regarding these Terms, please contact Customer Support.