Bingo

​​​​Under the Gaming Control Act 1993, authorised games, including the authorised game of bingo, may only be conducted by the holder of a minor gaming permit.  Certain low-value games of bingo are excluded from this requirement, as an exempt game. More information can be found on Exempt games.

The minor gaming permit holder must comply with the requirements of the Gaming Control Act 1993, the rules of the authorised game of bingo set out below, and any conditions issued on the minor gaming permit.  Failure to comply with these requirements may result in a fine or other disciplinary action.

Under the Gaming Control Act 1993, it is an offence for an individual under the age of 18 to participate in the authorised game of bingo, and it is an offence for any person to facilitate such participation. ​


Rules of authorised bingo


  • Bingo proceeds must be used for the lawful purposes of the not-for-profit organisation or the charitable purpose specified on the relevant minor gaming permit, and not for the private gain or benefit of any person except by way of charity.
  • When calculating the proceeds to be distributed to the not-for-profit organisation or charitable purpose, the starting point must be the gross proceeds of all bingo card sales during a session.  The minor gaming permit holder may then deduct:
    • the actual incurred cost of the bingo prizes which have been distributed to bingo winners during the session; and
    • the reasonable and actually incurred operational costs, if any, of conducting the bingo session, which must not be more than five percent of the gross proceeds of the bingo card sales for the session.
  • No other deductions are permitted, and the remaining proceeds must be distributed in cash (not in goods or services) to the relevant not-for-profit organisation or charitable purpose. 
  • Proceeds must be distributed to the relevant not-for-profit organisation or charitable purpose promptly.

  • Every bingo card used in a game must have a serial number printed on it, to identify the game being played. Another identifying number must be printed on each book or sheet of cards issued, to enable the number of cards sold during a session to be calculated.
  • All cards used in a game must be sold for the same price.
  • The price of a bingo card must not exceed 50 cents per card, except for instant draw bingo (being the games known as “get six and win", “mini get six and win" and “get nine and win") which must not exceed two dollars per card. Instant draw bingo must not be played as a standalone game, and may only be played in conjunction with another game of bingo.
  • All bingo cards must be purchased before the start of the game.
  • The cost of the bingo card must be the only cost to participate in the game, and no additional charge may be required for admission to any game of bingo.​

  • A person must be appointed caller and another person must be appointed supervisor for each game.
  • The caller and the supervisor must not purchase bingo cards, or otherwise participate as a player in the game.
  • At the start of the bingo game the caller must announce a clear description of the arrangement of numbers required to be covered to win the game, which must be one of the following options:
    • all numbers in the top horizontal line on their card;
    • all numbers in the middle horizontal line on their card;
    • all numbers in the bottom horizontal line on their card;
    • all numbers on their card; or
    • all numbers on any one of the three horizontal lines on their card.
  • At the start of the bingo game the caller must announce the serial number printed on the card relating to each individual game

  • Bingo games must be played only at the location and time(s) specified on the relevant minor gaming permit.
  • The caller must randomly select numbers and announce the numbers to all players.  This must be done using either a receptacle containing numbered balls, or a random number generator.
  • The supervisor must check that the number has been correctly announced, and must then display a visual representation of each selected number in a way that is clearly visible to all players until the end of the game.
  • If the caller or the supervisor becomes aware that an error has been made in the calling or display or numbers, they must immediately make an announcement correcting the error.
  • The winner of a bingo game must be the first person to cover the required numbers on their bingo card from the draw, and advise the caller of this fact (usually by calling out loudly “bingo").
  • If more than one person covers the required number from the draw at the same time, all must be declared joint winners.
  • If one player has completed a card but has not noticed this fact until another player (or players) has called “bingo" on a subsequent number, all must be declared joint winners.
  • If a player incorrectly declares themselves the winner, the player must be permitted to continue to play the bingo game.
  • If an error has been made in the announcement or display of a number, for the purpose of determining the winner of a bingo game, the incorrect announcement or display must be taken not to have been made.
  • The supervisor must confirm the winner(s) of the bingo game by:
    • collecting the relevant bingo ticket from each player who has declared themselves a winner;
    • confirming the serial number and ticket book number (if any) and that the card was sold or played in the relevant game; and
    • counting back the numbers on the card against the numbers called, in the presence of an independent player who confirms those numbers.

  • Pri​zes must be money, and prizes of goods are not permitted.
  • The prize money available in a session of bingo must be at least 50 percent of the gross proceeds of all bingo card sales during that session.
  • Prize money must be shared equally between joint winners. 
  • Prize money must be paid to winners in cash as soon as practicable after the conclusion of each game. ​

  • A single session of bingo must not contain more than two jackpot games. 
  • A jackpot game must be played either as:
    • a “standard jackpot", whereby the game is limited to a stipulated number of calls, but increasing in subsequent jackpot games until the prize is won; or
    • a “rolling jackpot", whereby the game is limited to, and remains at, a stipulated number of calls, with the jackpot game repeated until the prize is won.
  • With regards prizes for jackpot games:
    • the total prize for the first game of a jackpot series must not exceed $300;
    • the jackpot must not increase by more than $50 per session; and 
  • if the jackpot reaches $2,000, the prize money must be distributed in or before the last game of the session.​

  • Promotional games, which are played in conjunction with a bingo session and for which there is no additional cost of entry, must not include a jackpot component.
  • The value of any single promotional game must not exceed $1,000.
  • The total value of all promotional games conducted in conjunction with any session of bingo must not exceed $2,000

  • Sufficient information must be provided in advance of purchase of a bingo card to enable participants to reasonably understand the game.  This information must be readily available to participants and must be prominently displayed at the location where bingo games are conducted.  The information must include, at a minimum:
    • the price of a bingo card;
    • a clear description of the arrangement of numbers required to be covered in order to win the game;
    • the prizes to be awarded in the bingo session;
    • the not-for-profit organisation or charitable purpose which is to benefit from the bingo game;
    • the name, contact address, and permit number of the minor gaming permit holder; and
    • a statement that individuals under the age of 18 must not participate in the authorised game of bingo​

  • The minor gaming permit holder must complete the “Authorised bingo - record keeping form", containing the following complete and accurate information for each session of bingo:
    • For each type of bingo card being sold in a bingo session, the price of the card, the number of cards sold, and the total gross proceeds received from the card sales;
    • The incurred cost of prizes which were distributed during the bingo session;
    • The reasonable and actually incurred operational costs of the bingo session, if any, which have been deducted from total gross proceeds before distribution to the relevant not-for-profit organisation or charitable purpose; and
    • The amount of proceeds distributed to the relevant not-for-profit organisation or charitable purpose, as well as a record of when and how those proceeds were distributed.
  • The minor gaming permit holder must retain the completed “Authorised bingo - record keeping form" for a period of 7 years.
  • The minor gaming permit holder must provide a copy of the completed “Authorised bingo - record keeping form" to the Commission if requested. In certain circumstances, the Commission may make it a condition of a minor gaming permit that the completed “Authorised bingo - record keeping form" is provided to the Commission within a specified timeframe
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