The popularity and mass appeal that online bingo enjoys today would not have been possible had the game not been considerate of player safety. With the need to part with one's sensitive personal information such as banking details, players attach a lot of importance to sites that adhere to the safety regulations. This is probably why the importance of licensed online bingo sites cannot be stressed enough. Though the rules and regulations related to online bingo might not be as interesting to know about as the game itself is, their presence ensures that players can indulge in a good game of bingo without the lurking fear of their confidential information being abused.
As online bingo falls under gambling, the rules and regulations associated with UK bingo are part of the Gambling Act 2005. According to the act, all internet bingo sites should be licensed in any one of the many countries approved by it. Without this, no online bingo site is allowed to advertise in the UK. This Act sets up the Gambling Commission which is the regulatory body for gaming machines, sites, bingo clubs and casinos in Britain. The Commission's website provides a wealth of knowledge on how to obtain a license and other frequently asked questions. This list of countries, also referred to as the White List, consists of the following:
- Gibraltar Licensing Authority
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC)
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Malta Lotteries &Gaming Authority
- Antigua Online Gaming Association
- Tasmania Department of Treasury and Finance
- All countries in the European Economic Area (EEA)
Though playing with a site that is not licensed under one of these countries from the White List is not illegal, it amounts to playing with a site that does not merit the government's approval. The argument behind this is that such sites might not adhere to the practiced standards of safety and hence, might not be completely safe for the players. A look at the best bingo operators and the countries they are licensed under, validates the importance of the White List. Some of the major online bingo operators and the countries that have issued a license for them are as follows:
- Cassava - Licensed in Gibraltar and their popular bingo sites are Wink Bingo and Redbus Bingo.
- Virtue Fusion - Licensed in Alderney and used by popular bingo sites such as William Hill and Mecca Bingo.
- Chelbis (Cozy Games) - License issues in Malta and operator of sites such as Gone Bingo and Bingo MagiX.
- Gamesys - Licensed in Gibraltar powering internet bingo sites like Heart Bingo and Sun Bingo.
- Parlay - License issued in Alderney and powering sites likes Crown Bingo and Wonder Bingo.
There are three types of licenses that bingo operators can obtain from the gambling commission to carry out their business. These include an Operating License, a Personal Management License and a Premises License. While some operators may need all three licenses to run their businesses smoothly, some others could suffice with fewer.
The Operating License is the one that most operators providing bingo services cannot do without. Operating licenses, on the other hand, are of two types - non remote bingo operating license and remote bingo operating license. In case of the bingo operation being at home, fund-raising, as prize gaming, etc., the operator need not apply for the Operating License. All those who need the Operating License will also require the Personal Management License, unless they qualify as a small-scale operator. The Premises License, which can be obtained from the local licensing authority, is only for bingo hall based operators.
Apart from opting for a licensed site to play with, players should also look out for the seals of other regulatory bodies such as eCOGRA (e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance) as well as the Gamcare logo to ensure the safest online bingo experience possible. As there are no industry bodies to assist players engaged in a dispute with an online bingo site, precautions such as reading the terms and conditions carefully will go a long way to avoid any untoward situations.
