Gambling terms, explained straight

Lottery, Bingo & Number Games

Bingo machine

A bingo machine is equipment used to present or facilitate a bingo game, such as a video bingo terminal (VBT), that meets the bingo characteristics set by the regulator rather than being treated as a gaming machine.

Also called
Video bingo terminal (VBT), electronic bingo machine14
Key characteristic
Player receives a set of numbers or symbols, none chosen by the player, and marks them off as numbers are drawn at random2
Minimum time extension
Must provide a facility to extend playing time by at least 100%1
Regulatory status (UK)
Excepted from gaming machine definition when used under a bingo operating licence and in line with Commission conditions3

Key points

  • A bingo machine must show a single set of numbers or symbols per game and present the experience as bingo, or the regulator may treat it as a gaming machine.1
  • It cannot have autoplay; the player must actively mark off numbers as they are called.1
  • In Great Britain, bingo machines are regulated under the Gambling Act 2005 as an exception to gaming machine rules, provided they meet the bingo characteristics.3

How a bingo machine works

The player receives a set of numbers or symbols — none chosen by the player — and marks them off as numbers are drawn at random and announced by a caller.2 The machine must present a single set of numbers per game, show the experience as bingo, and avoid behaving like a gaming machine (e.g., no autoplay).1 If those characteristics are missing, the UK Gambling Commission is likely to treat it as a gaming machine instead.1

Where this term is used

Lottery & bingo Bingo The general game of bingo, of which the bingo machine is equipment used to run or present it. Lottery & bingo Bingo card The card or ticket containing the numbers or symbols used in a bingo game, often displayed electronically on a bingo machine. Lottery & bingo Bingo dauber A marker used to daub numbers on a paper bingo card, not needed with an electronic bingo machine. Lottery & bingo Cash bingo Cash prizes awarded in bingo games, which may be paid out via a bingo machine. Lottery & bingo Bonus bingo A variant of bingo with extra prizes, sometimes offered on bingo machines. Lottery & bingo Bingo 90 A common British bingo format that can be played on a bingo machine.

Sources

  1. How bingo is defined gamblingcommission.gov.uk Defines bingo characteristics and the minimum 100% time-extension rule for bingo machines.
  2. The fundamental principles of bingo gamblingcommission.gov.uk Explains the fundamental principles of bingo, including how numbers are drawn and marked.
  3. Gambling Act 2005 - Explanatory Notes - Legislation.gov.uk legislation.gov.uk Provides the legal framework under the Gambling Act 2005 that excepts bingo machines from gaming machine definitions.
  4. Video bingo en.wikipedia.org Confirms the alternative term 'video bingo terminal'.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.