Interim executive director Sarah Gardner said the UK bingo sector generated £816m in gross gambling yield in 2024/25, around 5% of the industry’s £16.8bn total. She also said a new survey question brought the Gambling Survey for Great Britain’s estimate of club bingo participation closer to the Bingo Association’s figure.
The figures give bingo operators and investors a regulator’s measure of sector revenue and participation.
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Sarah Gardner, the Gambling Commission’s interim chief executive, praised Allwyn’s player-protection measures at a company conference in the UK. She said the National Lottery raised £1.7bn for good causes in the past year and described Allwyn’s new online safeguards as positive, while noting early implementation difficulties.
UKGC acting CEO Sarah Gardner said Allwyn must meet higher standards given the National Lottery’s public position.
UK Gambling Commission acting chief executive Sarah Gardner called on Allwyn UK to increase National Lottery returns for good causes while maintaining player protections, according to a report of her conference remarks. Allwyn generated £1.8bn for good causes in 2025/26, while sales fell 12.5% year on year in the first quarter of 2026/27. Gardner said the technology upgrade created opportunities to improve safeguards, despite transition problems.
It was reported that BHA questioned UKGC’s account of engagement on financial risk assessments. UKGC says it has engaged proactively, including in a response from acting chief Sarah Gardner to a parliamentary committee.
The Gambling Commission will publish evidence on financial risk assessments in autumn. Sarah Gardner told MPs the delay reflects the implementation timetable, the outlet reported.