merrion street

This is a modest proposal. It will simply ensure that the charities receive a fair share from the bingo operators who act as their agent; that is a minimum of 25% of the proceeds of the bingo.

I don’t accept that bingo halls would be forced to close as a result. It has always been the case under the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act that a bingo operator could act as an agent of a lottery licence holder but that licence holder must be a charitable or philanthropic cause.  This is not changing.

These measures will increase transparency by placing some additional responsibilities on applicants for lottery licences. It is right and proper that licence holders get an appropriate return to their charity. I am proposing that a maximum of 25% of proceeds can go to bingo operators while a minimum of 25% would go to charity and 50% would go to prize-winners. I don’t accept that these changes will stop anyone playing bingo – a game which is renowned for its social appeal. Given its social appeal, people do not play bingo based solely on the prize level, if they did, they would likely gamble elsewhere.

It will simply ensure that the charitable purposes, such as sports clubs, school renovations etc. – will benefit as intended.