Citation, commencement and interpretation
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Gaming (Bingo) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and shall come into operation on 1st August 2003.
(2) In these Regulations “the Order” means the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
(3) A reference in these Regulations to a charge in respect of gaming by way of bingo does not include an amount paid for a chance of winning a prize in games of bingo to which Article 77 of the Order applies.
Bingo charges
2.—(1) Any charge which, apart from this regulation, would be prohibited by Article 56 of the Order, may be made in respect of gaming by way of bingo on bingo club premises, subject to the following conditions, namely –
(a)the charge shall be in respect of a person and shall be for his admission to bingo club premises or otherwise in respect of his participation in a game of bingo on those premises;
(b)in the case of his admission, the charge shall not exceed £10 per day; and
(c)in the case of his participation in a game of bingo, the charge shall not exceed £5 for each chance in playing the game.
(2) In the case of a charge for admission, a notice of that charge shall be displayed on the bingo club premises at or near the principal entrance.
(3) In the case of any other charge in respect of gaming by way of bingo, a notice in the name of the bingo club concerned containing the particulars of the charges specified in paragraph (4) shall be displayed at the point (or, if more than one, the main point) where payment for the charge is to be made.
(4) The particulars to be contained in the notice are:
(a)the date from which the notice applies;
(b)the name of each ticket or game (or set of tickets or games) to be played during the currency of the notice;
(c)the cost (in money) of each ticket or game (or set of tickets or games);
(d)the charge in respect of each ticket or game (or set of tickets or games); and
(e)a statement to the effect that all or part of the charge may be waived at the discretion of the person making it.
(5) The notices referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) may be displayed in electronic form.
Display of additional information
3.—(1) In relation to gaming by way of bingo in respect of which a charge may be made by virtue of regulation 2(1), the following information shall be prominently displayed in the bingo club premises before each game of bingo has ended, or, where the stake hazarded by each player is in respect of a series of games, before that series has ended –
(a)the aggregate amount of the charges (if any) paid by the players by virtue of regulation 2(1)(c) for participation in that game or that series of games;
(b)the aggregate amount staked by the players in that game or that series of games; and
(c)the aggregate amount to be paid out as winnings to those players.
(2) The information referred to in paragraph (1) may be displayed in electronic form.
Revocation
4. The following are hereby revoked –
(a)the Gaming (Bingo) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(1); and
(b)the Gaming (Bingo) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(2).
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 11th April 2003.
L.S.
Henry Johnston
A Senior Officer of the
Department for Social Development