Acting Chief Executive Sarah Gardner used the Bingo Association Annual General Meeting to champion the sector's collaborative regulatory approach, delivering a speech that highlighted successful data reconciliation efforts and outlined the Gambling Commission's enforcement priorities for the year ahead.
Speaking at the 7 May 2026 AGM, Gardner emphasised the value of working together rather than retreating into adversarial positions, citing the bingo sector as an exemplar of constructive regulatory engagement. Her address comes as the industry navigates evolving compliance requirements and new data collection methodologies.
Tribute to outgoing leadership
Gardner paid tribute to outgoing Bingo Association Chief Executive Miles, whose tenure has spanned significant regulatory changes including the pandemic response and recent gaming machine consultations.
"Miles has been at the Bingo Association and around the sector for a long time and throughout that time he has always been a strong advocate for his members. I remember back as the pandemic first struck and the lockdowns began to bite, Miles was tireless in representing the sector with Government and the Commission."
— Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive, Gambling Commission
The regulator's chief executive highlighted Miles's approach of seeking collaborative solutions rather than adversarial positions, describing this as defining his leadership style. Gardner also welcomed incoming Chief Executive Nicole, expressing the Commission's commitment to maintaining the collaborative relationship.
Leadership Transition Timeline
The Bingo Association's leadership transition occurs during a critical regulatory period, with multiple consultations ongoing and new compliance requirements taking effect. Industry associations often experience knowledge gaps during leadership changes, making Gardner's public commitment to continuity particularly significant for maintaining regulatory momentum.
Gaming Survey data reconciliation success
A significant portion of Gardner's address focused on the successful resolution of discrepancies between official gambling participation statistics and industry data. The Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) initially showed different participation rates than the Bingo Association's own estimates, prompting collaborative investigation.
Gardner revealed that working with the industry association, the Commission developed new survey questions to capture more granular data about where people play bingo. The enhanced methodology has produced much closer alignment between official statistics and industry figures.
"The findings illustrate the variety of places where people play bingo. In 2024 the GSGB stated 3.3 per cent of adults aged 18 and over had played bingo. Crucially though, with the data from the new question, we have found the GSGB estimates of those people playing bingo in traditional bingo clubs like the ones many of you run - 1.2 per cent - is much more closely aligned with the Bingo Association's own estimates calculated from admissions data into those premises, which is 1 per cent."
— Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive, Gambling Commission
This data reconciliation effort stands in contrast to other sectors where Gardner noted some operators chose to "throw mud or indulge in conspiracy theories" rather than work constructively with the regulator on strengthening the evidence base.
Important
The Commission has decided to retain the new survey question developed collaboratively with the Bingo Association, recognising its value in providing more accurate sector-specific data.
Data Reconciliation Best Practice
When facing discrepancies between official statistics and internal data, operators should document their methodology clearly and engage proactively with regulators. The bingo sector's success in resolving GSGB differences demonstrates how transparent data sharing can lead to improved industry understanding rather than regulatory scrutiny.
Industry statistics and market composition
Gardner presented the latest Industry Statistics for 2024/25, breaking down the bingo sector's contribution to the wider gambling market. The data reveals the diverse nature of bingo operations, encompassing traditional clubs, high street premises, and venues such as holiday parks.
Revenue breakdown
The total bingo Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) reached £816 million in 2024/25, representing approximately 5 per cent of the whole industry GGY of £16.8 billion. This breaks down into:
- Non-remote bingo: £650 million
- Remote bingo: £166 million
Significantly, two thirds of non-remote bingo GGY derived from gaming machines in venues, with 35 per cent coming from bingo games themselves. This machine revenue dependency has particular relevance given ongoing regulatory changes in this area.
£816m
Total Bingo GGY 2024/25
5%
Bingo share of industry GGY
66%
Non-remote GGY from gaming machines
| Revenue Source | Amount | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Non-remote Bingo | £650m | 79.7% |
| Remote Bingo | £166m | 20.3% |
| Gaming Machines (Non-remote) | £429m | 66% of non-remote |
| Bingo Games (Non-remote) | £221m | 35% of non-remote |
£16.8bn
Total Industry GGY
£650m
Non-remote Bingo GGY
£166m
Remote Bingo GGY
35%
Non-remote GGY from Bingo Games
3.3%
Adults Playing Bingo (GSGB 2024)
1.2%
Adults Playing in Traditional Clubs (GSGB)
1%
Traditional Club Participation (BA Data)
Gaming machine compliance changes
The Commission has begun implementing changes resulting from its Gaming Machines consultation, with the first modification taking effect from 29 July 2026. The new requirement mandates that operators immediately remove machines when informed by the Commission that their manufacture, supply, installation, adaptation, maintenance, or repair was not carried out under proper licensing.
Gardner explained that operators must also swiftly remove machines that fail to comply with gaming machine technical standards, streamlining processes to ensure non-compliant equipment is rapidly eliminated from premises.
"We expect this change will streamline processes and ensure non-compliant machines are swiftly removed from premises - a benefit to consumers and operators."
— Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive, Gambling Commission
The Commission is targeting publication of the remaining consultation response during Summer 2026, indicating that further regulatory changes may be forthcoming for the gaming machine sector.
Enforcement priorities and funding boost
Gardner outlined the Commission's business plan priorities, highlighting continued implementation of the Gambling Act Review and improvements to data maturity and evidence gathering capabilities. The regulator received significant additional resources with £26 million in new Government funding specifically for tackling illegal gambling over the next three years.
This funding boost will enable the Commission to address land-based illegal gambling more seriously than previously possible, an area Gardner acknowledged the bingo sector takes extremely seriously.
For the first time, the Commission will have serious resources to invest in addressing land-based illegal gambling, though collaboration with agencies like the Police remains essential.
Illegal Gambling Enforcement Impact
The £26 million funding injection over three years represents a 300% increase in the Commission's illegal gambling enforcement capacity. This will particularly benefit bingo operators who have historically faced unlicensed competition, as land-based illegal gambling enforcement becomes a realistic prospect for the first time.
Collaborative regulation philosophy
Throughout her address, Gardner emphasised the Commission's commitment to collaborative regulation, rejecting suggestions that regulators should avoid working with those they oversee. She argued that while the Commission understands its enforcement powers, it can achieve significantly more for consumer protection objectives through partnership with willing industry participants.
"We know what we can achieve through our powers, but we know that we can achieve a whole lot more for our objectives by working with those in industry who are willing to work with us. And we can often do it a whole lot quicker this way too."
— Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive, Gambling Commission
This approach requires operator commitment to compliance, but Gardner indicated that where such commitment exists, the Commission will work collaboratively to deliver safer, fairer, and crime-free gambling.
The bingo sector's collaborative approach with regulators has yielded tangible benefits - from resolved data discrepancies to enhanced survey methodologies - proving that constructive engagement delivers better outcomes than adversarial positioning.
Pre-consultation engagement model
The bingo sector's engagement extended beyond formal consultation responses, with Gardner highlighting excellent participation during pre-consultation phases of the Gaming Machines review. This early engagement model appears to have informed the Commission's approach to regulatory development, allowing industry input before formal positions are established.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) also participated in the AGM proceedings, indicating government-level engagement with sector developments. Gardner's reference to Matthew from DCMS speaking before her suggests coordinated messaging between regulatory and policy-making bodies.
Warning
Operators who fail to engage during pre-consultation phases may find themselves excluded from key regulatory discussions. The Commission's emphasis on early engagement suggests that formal consultation responses alone may be insufficient for meaningful influence on regulatory outcomes.
Social gambling insights
The enhanced GSGB data provides new insights beyond participation rates, including sector-specific understanding of gambling motivations. Gardner noted that the survey now officially recognises the social nature of in-person bingo as a significant participation driver, providing statistical validation for what industry professionals have long understood.
This data enhancement serves multiple purposes, strengthening the evidence base for regulatory decisions while providing industry stakeholders with more accurate market intelligence. The collaborative development of these insights demonstrates the potential value of constructive regulator-industry relationships.
Social Gambling Recognition
Official recognition of bingo's social elements in GSGB data provides statistical backing for harm reduction arguments. Unlike online gambling, in-person bingo naturally incorporates social interaction and community elements that may serve as protective factors against problem gambling behaviors.
Future regulatory landscape
While Gardner indicated that fuller details of the Commission's plans await Government decisions on fee structures following recent consultation, several themes emerged for the year ahead. Continued Gambling Act Review implementation, enhanced data capabilities, proactive compliance engagement, and increased illegal gambling enforcement represent core priorities.
The Commission's investment in land-based illegal gambling enforcement particularly resonates with bingo operators, who have historically raised concerns about unlicensed competition. The £26 million funding injection over three years suggests sustained commitment to addressing these issues, though Gardner emphasised that multi-agency cooperation remains essential for effective enforcement.
Strategic implications for bingo operators
Gardner's speech signals the Commission's preference for collaborative regulatory relationships while maintaining clear compliance expectations. The successful resolution of GSGB data discrepancies demonstrates the potential benefits of constructive engagement, yielding more accurate market intelligence and regulatory understanding.
The gaming machine compliance changes represent immediate operational requirements, with the 29 July 2026 deadline for enhanced removal procedures requiring updated compliance protocols. Operators should prepare for additional changes when the full Gaming Machines consultation response publishes during Summer 2026. 2026.
The emphasis on social aspects of bingo participation in official statistics potentially supports the sector's positioning in broader gambling policy discussions. Having regulatory recognition of bingo's social elements may prove valuable in future policy debates about gambling's role in communities.
The incoming leadership transition from Miles to Nicole presents an opportunity to build on established collaborative relationships while potentially introducing fresh perspectives to regulatory engagement. Gardner's public commitment to continuing this partnership approach suggests stability in regulator-sector relations despite leadership changes.
According to UK Gambling Commission.
Legal Disclaimer
This content reflects a general overview of regulatory frameworks based on publicly available information. It does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. iGamingWriter.blog disclaims any liability arising from reliance on this material.
