The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Who may participate in bingo N.I.

75.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where bingo takes place on any bingo club premises, no person shall participate in the bingo—

(a) if he is not present on the premises at the time when the bingo takes place there, or

(b) on behalf of another person who is not present on the premises at that time.

(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 1 or other of those premises, and

(b) the draw takes place on 1 or other of those premises while the game is being played, and

(c) any claim of 1 of the players to have won is indicated to all the other players before the next number is called,

then if—

(i) 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

(ii) 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 sub-paragraphs (a) to (c), 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[F1 £55,000] or such other amount as the Department may specify by order, subject to affirmative resolution,

paragraph (1) shall have effect as if those different premises were the same premises.

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, where bingo takes place on bingo club premises, no person shall participate in the bingo unless either—

(a) he is a member of the bingo club specified in the bingo club licence F2 ...; or

(b) he is a bona fide guest of a person who is a member of that bingo club F3 ...;

and neither the holder of the licence nor any person acting on his behalf or employed in the bingo club premises in question shall participate in the bingo.

F4 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b) a person shall not be precluded from being a bona fide guest by reason only that he makes a payment which is required by regulations made under Article 76(2)(b).

(7) A person under the age of 18 shall not participate in bingo which takes place on bingo club premises.

(8) For the purposes of this Article a person participates in bingo if he takes part in the bingo as a player.

(9) In this Article and Article 76 “week” means a period of 7 days beginning with a Monday.

F1 SR 2001/414

F2 Words in art. 75(3)(a) repealed (27.4.2022) by Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 14), ss. 5(a), 17(2)

F3 Words in art. 75(3)(b) repealed (27.4.2022) by Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 14), ss. 5(b), 17(2)

F4 Art. 75(4) repealed (27.4.2022) by Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 14), ss. 5(c), 17(2)