There are three different types of bingo licence: operating licence, personal management licence and a premises licence. Sometimes, more than one of these licences is necessary for the same bingo business.

Operating and personal management licences are issued by the Gambling Commission, an independent public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Premises licences are issued by the local licensing authorities. The Gambling Commission also determines who is eligible for a licence and who is not. If you are in any doubt it is worth consulting them or checking their website.

There are two types of operating licence, bingo operating licence and remote bingo operating licence. The bingo operating licence allows the holder to organize bingo games in a property issued with a premises licence by the local authorities. The primary activity on the premises must be bingo games in order to comply with licensing conditions.

The remote bingo operating licence allows the running of bingo games via a website, mobile technology, interactive TV or radio. You must apply for a remote licence if any part of the equipment used on the premises is used to organize remote bingo games. Bingo halls that participate in the National Bingo Games would have this licence.

Applications for Personal Management Licences (PML) should be put in for people in certain management positions. These should be applied for at the same time as the appropriate operating licence. You cannot undertake any responsibilities as stipulated by a PML unless you have this licence.