News is just filtering through that the Gambling commission has ordered at least one major bingo organisation to switch off literally hundreds of slot machines.

Bingo Supermarket have heard that the industry could be hit with another body blow from regulators as some bingo operators attempting to exploit a loop hole has had it firmly closed shut.

Some time ago, bingo organisations wishing to have a larger estate of jackpot machines decided to apply for multiple bingo licences on one bingo site.  At the time of applying, many bingo clubs were only allowed 4 jackpots and this has now been increased to 8.

However, some organisations applied for multiple bingo licences for the same premises.  A Bingo club could apply for 4 bingo licences and then operate 16 jackpot fruit machines.  The legislation on a bingo licence states that you must have more seating positions than fruit machines.  Although a club may have 2000 seats, the plan may encompass the 2000 seats on one licence and the rest of the fruit machine area which is normally in a foyer may be split down into a further 3 licences but not have any seats or enough seats to satisfy the licensing requirements.

It is rumoured so far to have effected some 700 slot machines for one company alone and this could spell disaster for the operators that have taken advantage of multiple licences and may come back and bite them hard.