The Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2025 No. 2

Betting, Gaming And Lotteries

The Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

Made

13th January 2025

Affirmed by resolution of the Assembly on

28th January 2025

Coming into operation in accordance with Article 1

The Department for Communities(1) makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 77(4), 106(3) and 108(16) of The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985(2), and now vested in it(3).

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.  This Order may be cited as The Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on the day after the day on which it is affirmed by resolution of the Assembly.

2.  In this Order “ the 1985 Order” means The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985(4).

Conditions governing gaming for prizes on bingo club premises

3.  In Article 77(1) (gaming for prizes on bingo club premises) of the 1985 Order–

(a) in sub-paragraph (a) for “£0.50” (5) substitute “£1”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b) for “£120” (6) substitute “£500”;

(c) in sub-paragraph (c) for “£25” (7) substitute “£100”; and

(d) in sub-paragraph (e) for “£120” (8) substitute “£500”.

Maximum charge for playing a game once by means of a gaming machine in a registered club

4.  In Article 106(3) (use of gaming machines in registered clubs) of the 1985 Order for “£0.50” (9) substitute “£2.00”.

Use of gaming machines on other premises

5.  In Article 108 (use of gaming machines on other premises) of the 1985 Order–

(a) in paragraph (6)(b) for “£0.30” (10) substitute “£2.00”;

(b) in paragraph (6)(c) for “£0.30” (11) substitute “£1.00”;

(c) in paragraph (6)(d) for “£0.30” (12) substitute “£2.00”;

(d) in paragraph (6)(e) for “£0.30” (13) substitute “£2.00”;

(e) in paragraph (8)(a) for “£25” (14) substitute “£500”;

(f) in paragraph (8)(b) for “£25” (15) substitute “£100”;

(g) in paragraph (8)(c) for “£25” (16) substitute “£500”; and

(h) in paragraph (8)(d) for “£25” (17) substitute “£500”.

Revocations

6.  The following are revoked:–

(a) Article 4(a) (maximum charge for playing a game once and maximum entitlement to prizes in gaming by means of gaming machines in certain other premises) of the Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998(18);

(b) Article 4 (maximum charge for playing a game once by means of a gaming machine in a registered club) of the Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999(19);

(c) Article 4 (conditions governing gaming for prizes on bingo club premises) of the Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001(20); and

(d) Article 2 (conditions governing gaming for prizes on bingo club premises) and Article 3 (maximum entitlement to prizes in gaming by means of a gaming machine on licensed premises within the meaning of The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996) of the Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2003(21).

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 13th January 2025.

(L.S.)

Gerard Murray

A senior officer of the Department for Communities

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends Articles 77(1), 106(3), 108(6) and 108(8) of The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 by increasing various monetary limits relating to prizes and charges. It also revokes provisions of previously made ‘Variation of Monetary Limits’ Orders.

Article 3 increases:–

• the maximum amount that may be paid by any one person for any one chance to win a prize in gaming on bingo club premises, other than by means of a gaming machine, from £0.50 to £1;

• the limit on the maximum aggregate amount that may be taken by way of the sale of chances in any single determination of prize winners in gaming on bingo club premises, other than by means of a gaming machine from £120 to £500;

• the maximum money prize which can be distributed or offered in any single determination of prize winners in gaming on bingo club premises, other than by means of a gaming machine from £25 to £100; and

• the maximum permitted aggregate amount or value of prizes in any single determination of prize winners in gaming on bingo club premises, other than by means of a gaming machine, from £120 to £500.

Article 4 increases the maximum permitted charge in respect of playing one game by means of a gaming machine in a registered club from £0.50 to £2.

Article 5 increases:–

• the maximum charge, in respect of playing any game once by means of a gaming machine installed on a licensed premises within the meaning of The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 from £0.30 to £1;

• the maximum charge for playing any game once by means of a gaming machine installed on a bingo club premises, a licensed office or a premises for which there is an amusement permit in force from £0.30 to £2;

• the maximum entitlement to a money prize in respect of any one game played on a gaming machine installed on a licensed premises within the meaning of The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 from £25 to £100; and

• the maximum entitlement to a money prize in respect of any one game played on a gaming machine installed on a bingo club premises, a licensed office or a premises for which there is an amusement permit in force from £25 to £500.

An Equality Impact Assessment has been prepared and can be viewed at www.communities-ni.gov.uk.

(1)

Formerly the Department for Social Development; see 2016 c.5 (N.I.), section 1(7)

(2)

S.I. 1985 No. 1204 (N.I. 11)

(3)

See S.R. 1999 No. 481, Article 8(b) of and Part 2 of Schedule 6 to the Departments (Transfer and Assignment of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 transferred functions to the Department for Social Development which were previously exercisable by the Department of Health and Social Services; see the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 c.5 (N.I.). Under section 1 the Department for Social Development was renamed the Department for Communities.

(4)

The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 has been amended by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

(5)

Substituted by S.R. 2001 No. 414 Article 4(a)

(6)

Substituted by S.R. 2001 No. 414 Article 4(b)

(7)

Substituted by S.R. 2003 No. 15 Article 2

(8)

Substituted by S.R. 2001 No. 414 Article 4(b)

(9)

S.R. 1999 No. 4

(10)

Substituted by S.R. 2004 No. 310 (N.I.1) Article 10(1)(b)

(11)

Substituted by S.R. 2004 No. 310 (N.I.1) Article 10(1)(b)

(12)

Substituted by S.R. 2004 No. 310 (N.I.1) Article 10(1)(b)

(13)

Substituted by S.R. 2004 No. 310 (N.I.1) Article 10(1)(b)

(14)

Substituted by S.R. 2003 No. 15 Article 3

(15)

Substituted by S.R. 2003 No. 15 Article 3

(16)

Substituted by S.R. 2003 No. 15 Article 3

(17)

Substituted by S.R. 2003 No. 15 Article 3

(18)

S.R. 1998 No. 56

(19)

S.R. 1999 No. 4

(20)

S.R. 2001 No. 414

(21)

S.R. 2003 No. 15