The Bingo Association (BA), the National Bingo Game Association (NBGA) and Meeron announced the appointment of Nicole Garrett as their new Chief Executive Officer. This leadership transition follows the confirmation that current CEO Miles Baron will step down at the end of June 2026.

Strategic Succession and Timeline

Nicole is set to join the organisations in Spring 2026. The appointment was made jointly by the respective association chairmen as part of a structured succession plan to ensure a seamless transition of leadership for the UK bingo sector.

Extensive Industry Expertise

Nicole Garrett joins the associations from Allwyn Group, the operator of the UK National Lottery. During her tenure as Group Head of Responsible Gaming, she spearheaded international initiatives centered on player protection and safer gambling.

Her professional background includes several high-profile leadership roles within the gaming and betting industry:

• Allwyn Group: Group Head of Responsible Gaming

• Bet365: Head of Corporate Affairs

• Betting and Gaming Council (BGC): Head of Policy.

Leading the Future of the Bingo Industry

With a proven track record in navigating complex regulatory reforms and stakeholder engagement, Nicole brings a wealth of strategic experience to her new role. Her expertise in social responsibility and policy development will be vital as she leads the Association through the evolving landscape of the gambling sector.

The chairmen of BA, NBGA and Meeron commented: “We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Nicole Garrett as our new CEO. Nicole brings an exceptional breadth of experience from across the wider gaming sector, with a strong track record in policy development, regulatory engagement, and responsible gaming. We are confident she will provide outstanding leadership as the bingo industry navigates an evolving regulatory and commercial landscape.”

Commenting on her appointment, Nicole Garrett said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Bingo Association (BA), the National Bingo Game Association (NBGA) and Meeron at such an important time for the bingo industry. Bingo plays a unique and valued role within local communities, and I am very much looking forward to working closely with members and stakeholders to support the sector and help shape its future.”

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Soon it may be possible to play bingo via walkie-talkie and on local radios. A bill is currently being considered by the Danish Parliament to introduce a new type of licence for bingo via walkie-talkie and local radio. The Danish Gambling Authority expects the rules to come into force as early as 1 January 2026.

If the bill is passed, providers of walkie-talkie bingo and local radio will be able to apply for a licence from 1 January 2026. The Danish Gambling Authority will update this news article when the rules are finally adopted.

How to apply for a licence

If you want to offer bingo via walkie-talkie or radio, you need a licence from the Danish Gambling Authority. You can expect to apply as early as 1 January 2026.

When applying for a licence, you must use the form “Apply for a walkie-talkie or radio bingo licence” (no. 1-02). The form will be available on the page “revenue-restricted licenses”.

The application form will also be published in a digital version, but it will not be available on virk.dk until January.

The Danish Gambling Authority strives to process all applications as quickly as possible.

As an applicant, you will be assigned a contact person who can guide you through the legislation during the application process. The contact person will generally remain the same throughout the period of validity of your licence.

Report on the first year of offering games

Licences for radio and walkie-talkie bingo are regulated by the Gambling Act and the Executive Order on Online Casino. The legislation sets out a number of requirements for licensed gambling operators. Among other things, the licence holder must complete a report on the first year of offering gambling.

The report is prepared one year after the licence has been put into use and must be sent to the Danish Gambling Authority no later than 14 months after the date when the licence has been put into use.

The licence holder can fill out the report themselves.

The report must account for how the licence holder has provided gambling in accordance with the conditions of the licence and legislation during the past year.

The report template will be available on the Danish Gambling Authority’s website as form no. 1-04.

The post Spillemyndigheden: New licence type coming soon: Bingo via walkie-talkie and local radio appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has opened a consultation seeking views on two key areas of gambling regulation: the use of Category D gaming machines and the licensing framework for bingo premises.

The consultation is part of the government’s broader Gambling White Paper reforms, which aim to update legislation in line with technological and market developments.

Category D machines are the lowest-stakes gaming machines permitted in the UK, commonly found in arcades, family entertainment centres and some pubs. These include coin pushers, crane grabs and low-stake fruit machines. Currently, these machines can be made available without a licence or permit in certain settings, a policy originally intended to support low-risk entertainment. However, the government is now questioning whether this exemption remains appropriate, particularly in light of concerns about underage access and the evolving gambling environment.

The consultation proposes two options: either maintaining the current exemption for Category D machines or removing it, which would require all operators to obtain a permit or licence. The government is particularly interested in whether the exemption still serves its intended purpose and whether it creates inconsistencies in regulatory oversight.

The second focus of the consultation is the licensing of bingo premises. Under current law, a premises licence is required to offer bingo, but the definition of what constitutes “bingo” has evolved over time. The government is considering whether the current licensing framework is sufficiently clear and proportionate, especially for low-stakes or community-based bingo activities. It is also exploring whether the current rules may be creating unnecessary burdens for small operators or community groups.

Stakeholders, including operators, local authorities, and members of the public, can respond to the consultation, which will remain open until 4 December 2025. The government is particularly seeking evidence on the impact of the current rules, the potential effects of any changes and views on how best to balance consumer protection with regulatory proportionality.

This consultation follows a series of other gambling-related reforms announced in the Gambling White Paper, including proposals to strengthen online gambling protections, modernise land-based gambling rules and improve oversight of gambling advertising and sponsorship.

The DCMS emphasised that any changes resulting from the consultation will be carefully considered to ensure they are evidence-based and proportionate, with a continued focus on protecting children and vulnerable people from gambling-related harm.

The post UK Govt Launches Consultation on Category D Gaming Machines and Licensing for Bingo Premises appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.