Bingo clubs and betting shops in some areas of the UK are facing higher license costs as local authorities struggle with their budgets. Councils are expected to review the fees annually and any increases should be fair and represent value for money for the gaming industry. The license fees are expected to cover the costs of enforcement and the investigation of illegal activities however there are concerns that increases will be made to cover shortfalls in local authority budgets.

At the moment many authorities don’t charge the maximum amounts as set out by the Government, however this maybe set to change over the next few years.

Previously bingo clubs paid a set license fee to government for operating a bingo club. However a few year ago operators were required to pay an operators and license fee to the local authority. Local authorities were free to set the level of fees depending on the costs associated within the area and these vary significantly. Reports out this week in the Yorkshire area suggest local authorities such as East Riding are looking at increasing the cost of some gaming related licenses by as much as 60 percent.

East Riding have put together proposals which include increasing the cost of varying or transferring bingo and betting shop licences to £1,000 from the current level of £600. The council currently receives nearly £60,000 for issuing, varying and transferring gaming related licenses in the area. The new plans would raise around £11,000 in extra revenue. The cost of licence applications for bingo clubs and betting shops would rise to £1,000 (up from £800), to £1,200 for the racecourse (from £850), to £950 for adult gaming centres (from £700), and to £850 for family entertainment centres (from £700).

While the increase seems significant other councils in the area charge a significant amount more for the same service and there are suggestions that they too will increase this year. Selby Council charges £3,500 for a bingo licence application, Scarborough charges £3,415, York charges £2,800, North Lincolnshire charges £2,712, and in Hull the costs is £1,750.