Mecca Bingo House Terms

  1. Definitions

In these T&Cs, if we say “we”, “our”, or “Mecca Bingo”, we mean Mecca Bingo Limited (Company Number 01854120). If we say “you”, “your”, or “Customer”, we mean any individual visiting a Mecca Bingo club or premises.

  1. These Terms and Conditions
  1. If you wish to enter a Mecca Bingo club, you will need to agree to these T&Cs. The T&Cs also include the “Rules of Playing Bingo” and the “Specific Game Rules” attached. Please read these before playing bingo at our venues. By entering a Mecca Bingo club and using our services, we will assume you have read and accepted them. If we change these T&Cs, we will put a notice on display in the Mecca Bingo club reception area for a period of 14 days. After 14 days, the changes will come into effect. Again, we will assume you agree to these changes if you continue to visit our Mecca Bingo clubs.

  1. Entry
    1. You must be 18 years old or above to enter our premises. Mecca Bingo operates a “think 25” policy. You may be asked to provide valid photo ID and further documentation needed to complete our verification checks. You may be refused entry if you can’t provide any of the documents we need.
    2. You may be asked to register your personal details with Mecca Bingo. Upon registration, you will be given a Mecca Bingo registration number. This cannot be transferred.
    3. We may need to search your personal effects for safety reasons (bags, luggage etc). We may refuse permission for any article to be brought into a Mecca Bingo club.
    4. Other than guide dogs and other trained assistance dogs, animals are not allowed into our premises.
    5. We expect all Customers to follow any rules of entry to our Mecca Bingo clubs. Ultimately, however, Mecca Bingo may deny entry to any Customer at any time without reason, and our decision is final.

  1. Customer Conduct
    1. We expect you to act in a polite, courteous and appropriate manner when inside our premises. We do not tolerate any abusive, discriminatory or obscene behaviour towards our Customers or staff. If we consider you to be acting in breach of this term, you may be removed from our premises and, at our discretion, may also be subject to suspension at one or more Mecca Bingo clubs.
    2. Although Customers are allowed to use electronic devices such as phones and cameras in our premises, please note:
      1. The use of devices to gain any competitive advantage whilst gaming is prohibited.
      2. You should respect people’s privacy and not post any photos of other Customers on social media without their permission.
      3. We do not allow Customers to film gaming unless management has consented to this. If we do consent, this may come with restrictions attached.

  1. Gaming
    1. Only lawful gaming specifically authorised by Mecca Bingo can be played in our premises. Please note the following terms which apply to gaming:
      1. Customer funds are held in Mecca Bingo’s general account and are not protected in the event of Mecca Bingo’s insolvency. We do not pay interest on any funds held on account by Mecca Bingo.
      2. Customers are required to redeem any slot machine/electronic payment tickets within 30 days of issue at the venue it was issued by. Any such tickets that remain unredeemed and outstanding beyond 30 days of issue may be cancelled at the discretion of management.
      3. Where any cash prize on an individual bingo game exceeds £1,000, any remaining amount over £1,000 will only be paid out by either cheque or BACS transfer. Mecca Max players are only permitted to perform cash withdrawals from their funds up to a maximum of £1,000 per day, with any remaining amount over £1,000 being subject to a cheque or BACS payment. In addition, Customers are entitled to receive all or part of their prize or funds as a cheque or BACS transfer.
      4. Mecca Bingo reserves the right to re-validate any results or prizes awarded. A Customer who has received a prize agrees to return it if, in Mecca Bingo’s opinion, it has been incorrectly awarded.
    2. Mecca Bingo reserves the right to withdraw any announcement or advertisement for guaranteed prize money, promotion or special offer prior to relevant session taking place in the event that actual Customer attendance at the session is anticipated to be significantly lower than expected when the announcement or advertisement was made.

  1. Safer Gambling
    1. Mecca Bingo is committed to providing a safe and responsible environment. If you are concerned about your gambling, please talk to one of our colleagues or pick up a safer gambling leaflet which provides information on a range of measures available to help you play more safely.
    2. If you have self-excluded from a Mecca Bingo club for reasons of problem gambling, or if you have self-excluded from all UK Mecca Bingo clubs via a national scheme, you will be self-excluded from all Mecca Bingo clubs for a period of at least six (6) months. You agree to comply with any term imposed on you by the relevant scheme.
    3. During any period of self-exclusion, you agree not to enter or attempt to enter any Mecca Bingo club. If, despite our reasonable endeavours you gain entry to a Mecca Bingo club during a period of self-exclusion, Mecca Bingo will not be liable for any losses you incur and will not honour any prizes/winnings.

  1. Personal Data
    1. Please read our Privacy Notice (available in our clubs and online: https://www.meccabingo.com/house-privacy-policy ) which explains how we collect and use your personal information.

  1. Suspension
    1. We may suspend you from one or more Mecca Bingo clubs at our discretion if, for example, we consider that you have acted in breach of these T&Cs or any applicable law. Suspension may be temporary or indefinite and shall remain in place until such time as we decide to lift the suspension. Any lifting of a suspension may also come with conditions attached. Failure to comply with the conditions may result in the suspension being re-imposed.
    2. During any period of suspension, you agree not to enter or attempt to enter any Mecca Bingo club. If, despite our reasonable endeavours you gain entry to Mecca Bingo club during a period of suspension, Mecca Bingo will (i) be entitled to remove you from the relevant club immediately, and (ii) not be liable for any losses you incur and will not honour any prizes/winnings.

  1. Disputes
    1. If you have a complaint about any of our services, you can raise this with the club’s Duty Manger in the first instance. Alternatively, information regarding our disputes process is set out in our Disputes leaflet which can be obtained either from the Mecca Bingo club’s reception area or online: https://www.meccabingo.com/complaints-policy.

  1. Liability
    1. This section sets out our legal liability to you. You agree that all personal property and effects are brought into our premises at your own risk and that you are responsible for keeping them safe and secure. Mecca Bingo does not accept any responsibility for the loss or damage to your personal property.
    2. We do not exclude or limit our liability to you for fraud, death or personal injury resulting from our negligence, or any other liability which we may not limit or exclude under applicable law.
    3. To the extent permitted, we will not be responsible to you or any third party in any way:
      1. For any indirect, special or consequential losses or damage, however caused and whether foreseeable or not; or
      2. For any conduct of any third party or customer, including anything said or done by them which may be discriminatory, defamatory, abusive or obscene or which could cause offence.

  1. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
    1. These T&Cs are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. You and Mecca Bingo agree that any legal proceedings regarding these T&Cs or the services provided shall be brought in the English Courts.

 

RULES OF PLAYING BINGO

Subject to the Specific Game Rules, the following rules apply to all games of bingo and form part of the Terms and Conditions of entry to Mecca Bingo clubs. Customers should ensure that they read them before playing. These rules may be amended by Mecca Bingo from time to time.

  1. A participation fee at the rate specified in the Charges to Play Notice will be charged per game. The prize money for each game is calculated by multiplying the number of tickets/playing positions sold by the purchase price less the participation fee.
  1. The normal range of numbers in play is 1 to 90 (alternative number ranges may be used dependent upon the game design).
  1. At the start of each game, the Caller/Host will confirm which book and/or ticket is to be played and which combination must be completed to win.
  1. If a Customer wishes to play less than the stated amount of tickets, the Customer must notify a Team Member who will detach the surplus books. Customers must not alter or split the books themselves, as they will become void.
  1. The Caller/Host will select a number by operating either a random selector or a “blower motor” or other similar apparatus and then announce it. The number is deemed called immediately when the Caller/Host commences speaking.
  1. The number will also be shown on an indicator board. In the event of a discrepancy, the number shown on the indicator board shall prevail over that announced by the Caller/Host.
  1. If the number called appears on the combination in play, the Customer should mark of that number but leave it sufficiently legible to be easily checked.
  1. The first Customer who marks off all the numbers on the combination in play must make an audible intervention to stop the game before the next number is called to claim the prize. The winning card must contain the last number called.
  1. It is the Customer’s responsibility to make themselves heard by the Caller/Host. In the event a Customer is in a separate area/room to the Caller/Host, the Customer must establish whether a Team Member is in control of that area/room for bingo purposes. If there is, the Customer must stop the game in sufficient time for the claim to be relayed to the Caller/Host to comply with the requirement of rule 8 above. If there is no Team Member in control of that area/room, the Customer is personally responsible for making themselves heard by the Caller/Host. In lounge areas where a table-top claim button is operational which generates an audible sound, a Customer may use this method to alert the Caller/Host to a claim.
  1. A team member will check the winning book/ticket and the Caller/Host will confirm whether the claim is valid. The Customer must produce their registration card to claim the prize. If the winning ticket is on an Electronic Bingo Terminal (Max Terminal), the claim may be validated directly by the Host/Caller without the need for a team member to attend to such a claim. This does not negate the responsibility of the claimant to stop the game as detailed in rule 9 above.
  1. If more than one Customer claims the prize, the prize will be divided equally between all players or, if applicable, each winner will receive the advertised minimum win value. In the event of the prize consisting in whole or part of a non-monetary prize, this shall be carried forward to another separate game or be the subject of a play-off or be substituted by a cash or a non-monetary alternative at Mecca Bingo’s discretion.
  1. In the event of a mechanical malfunction, however caused, or of duplication or incorrect game tickets being issued, either paper or electronic, resulting in multiple or duplicate claims, all claimants will equally share the declared prize.
  1. Once the Caller/Host has declared the game closed and/or the indicator board has been cleared, no further claims will be accepted.
  1. Where more than one game is played on the same ticket, the second game cannot be won until the first game has ended and at least one further number has been called.
  1. Customers entering into any ticket sharing and/or prize money sharing arrangements of any nature, and whether formal or informal, do so entirely at their own risk. Mecca Bingo does not accept any liability in the event of disputes arising from such arrangements or any sharing function offered on its products. Mecca Bingo’s only obligation is to pay the stated prize money to the player holding the winning bingo ticket.
  1. In the event of an equipment breakdown which prohibits the continuation of a game in progress, all numbers called will stand while the game is continued on some other form of equipment.

SPECIFIC GAME RULES

The Rules of Playing Bingo shall apply save where expressly altered by the following Specific Game Rules. These Specific Game Rules may be amended by Mecca Bingo from time to time:

American Bingo:

  1. The range of numbers in play is 1 to 75 only.
  1. The Caller/Host in addition to selecting each number may also announce its reference letter as well as the actual number i.e. “under the letter B, number 4”. Each number in the 1 to 75 sequence is designated a letter from one of B.I.N.G.O.

Jackpots:

  1. Jackpot prize(s) will be available within existing games designated by the club prior to the commencement of the session. Only the Jackpot numbers called within the designated game(s) will apply. Once a number has been called for the Jackpot prize, any repetition of it is invalid.
  1. Prizes are won dependent upon the number of calls generated for a Customer to make a valid winning claim, as designated by the Club prior to the commencement of the game.
  1. Where the Jackpot prize(s) is offered during linked games across Mecca Bingo clubs, the opportunity to win the Jackpot prize(s) at any of the participating clubs ceases when the full house prize has been won. When the Jackpot is in play, the winner of the house prize will also be entitled to the Jackpot prize(s) available in the Club at which they are playing, subject to meeting the qualifying criteria to win the Jackpot prize(s).
  1. In the event of the Jackpot not being won, the prize(s) will be carried forward to the next designated session.
  1. In the event that the Jackpot must be won on a specific session or game, then at the completion of the session or game the caller/host will continue to call further numbers until a winning claim is made by a Customer(s).

Cashline

  1. The appropriate payment must be made at the cashline position or, where a Mecca Max electronic bingo unit is used, the cards to be played must be highlighted and the appropriate stake money will be deducted from the credit meter. This will activate the playing position’s indicator light at the cashline position or on the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit cashline game, which will be accepted as proof of payment. This is a prerequisite of a winning claim.
  1. The Caller/Host selects a number from 1 to 80 and in turn announces its colour and number until such time a claim(s) is made.
  1. If the number called is shown on the board, the Customer should close the shutter or cover that number with a counter or electronically mark the number on the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit.
  1. If a Customer(s) completes the combination in play, they must either call promptly or stop the game by means of an electronic claim button.

Cashline Link Game

The Rules for playing bingo and the specific cashline rules also apply.

  1. The game will be called from a Control Club that will be designated before the game commences.
  1. The stake money is allocated by the Control Club to the cashline link game in proportion to the number of cashline machines operated in each Club taking part.
  1. In the event of technical faults:
    1. If a technical fault occurs after the game has been halted to check a claim and prior to the claim being checked, the actual checking of the claim may be validated via the telephone.
    2. Those clubs able to continue the cashline link game will do so (and the stake money will be adjusted accordingly) and the club(s) unable to continue will play a local game; or
    3. The cashline link game will be closed down and each club will play a local game for the money staked in that particular club.
  1. In all situations, cashline link game prizes awarded prior to the breakdown will stand.

Lucky Numbers

  1. The prize(s) on offer will be announced and/or displayed prior to sale of Lucky Numbers tickets. The allocated number of tickets must be sold before the game(s) can be played.
  1. Numbers will be selected by the Caller/Host using balls in a bag or a random selector. A Customer will be invited to verify that the correct number of balls is in use before the game begins.

The Link Game

  1. The game will be called from a Control Club, which will be designated before the game commences.
  1. As well as the link game, a separate local game of bingo may be played in each participating club for a portion of the monies staked by the Customers and which may be played on separate books/tickets or on the reverse side of a link game ticket.
  1. The stake money is allocated by the Control Club to the link game and local games in proportion to the number of books/tickets sold in each Club taking part.
  1. In the event of technical faults:
    1. If a technical fault occurs after the game has been halted to check a claim and prior to the claim being checked the actual checking of the claim may be validated via telephone.
    2. Those Clubs able to continue the link game will do so, and the stake money will be adjusted accordingly, and the Club(s) unable to continue will play a local game; or
    3. The link game will be closed down and each Club will play its local game(s) on the relevant books or tickets for the money staked in that particular Club.

In all situations link game prizes awarded prior to the breakdown will stand.

  1. It is the Customer’s responsibility to make themselves heard:
    1. In the case of Customers in the control club, by the Caller/Host;
    2. In the case of Customers in the receiving clubs, by the Caller/Host or Duty Manager at the microphone; and
    3. In the case of Customers in a separate area/room controlled by a team member, by the team member in control of that room.

Note: In regard to 5(b) and 5(c) above, the claim must be made in sufficient time to be relayed to the control club Caller/Host by the respective Duty Manager or team member.

Prizeline:

The Rules for playing bingo and the specific cashline game rules also apply.

  1. The appropriate stake money must be inserted in the slot provided.
  1. The Caller/Host selects a number from the 1 to 80 range announcing in turn its colour and number until such time a claim(s) is made.
  1. If the number called is shown on the board, the Customer should close the shutter or cover that number with a counter or electronically mark the number on the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit.
  1. If a Customer(s) completes the combination in play, they must either call promptly or stop the game by means of an electronic claim button.

Superbook Or Variant Games Of Bingo

  1. Prize money for a specific stake level will be displayed on the indicator board. Prize money for other stake levels will be announced at the start of the game.
  1. Should a club play a superbook or a variant of a superbook game or book where there are two or more stake charges for simultaneous games, including a free charge, the following procedure will be followed when there are multiple game claims and winners.

Example:

  1. Two stake charges for game played which are ‘free’ and a £10 superbook cost.
  2. Announced game prize for full house of £40 for ‘free’ game and £100 for ‘superbook’ game.
  3. Three claims made and verified – one ‘free’ game and two on superbook prize allocation would be:

‘FREE’

prize (£40) divided by 3 with £13.34 paid.

‘SUPERBOOK’

prize (£100) divided by 3 with £33.34 paid to each of two winners.

Cash Dash:

  1. Cash Dash is a fixed odds game of Bingo. This differs from standard games in that a pre-determined quantity of numbers will be called which the customer will mark off against their Cash Dash bingo tickets. All valid full houses completed using the called numbers win a prize.
  1. Customers are required to mark off numbers called in the usual way – i.e. dabber/pen for paper tickets, manual mark or auto-dab for Max.
  1. Customers must participate in the game and mark off the numbers to be eligible to claim the relevant prize, subject to marking off a full house in 67 numbers or less.
  1. On the Cash Dash game only, there is no requirement to stop the caller/host or for validation of wins by the caller/host during play.
  1. The price to play is as advertised and all or part of the stake can be retained for pay out of future game prizes.
  1. Claiming Prizes:
    1. Max playing customers will be required to claim their win by pressing their on-screen claim button (shown in the event of a valid claim) prior to the end of the game. The value of the prize(s) won will be paid to the customer’s Max account. It is the customer’s responsibility to press the claim button to receive the prize(s).
    2. Paper playing customers will be required to take their winning ticket(s) and membership cards to Booksales to claim their prize money.
  1. All claims for prizes must be made before 3.30pm for afternoon games and 10pm for evening games. A copy of the numbers called for the relevant game will be available until the stated time.
  1. In the event of any technical issue with the game, it may be necessary to revert to a traditional format Full House only game, with all other fixed odds prizes cancelled. In such circumstances, this will be announced by the Host/Caller.
  1. The 67 number Cash Dash prize table is as follows:

Mecca Max Electronic Bingo Terminals

  1. Mecca Max electronic bingo units are not guaranteed to have all 1 to 90 (1 to 80 for Quadro games) numbers on each strip of tickets sold.
  1. It is the responsibility of the Customer, either by review of the receipt issued at time of purchase or, if self-service has been used, by a physical check of tickets showing on the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit, to ensure that the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit contains all the tickets requested at time of purchase. Mecca Bingo accepts no liability whatsoever should the Mecca Max electronic bingo terminal not contain tickets which the Customer may have requested but was not charged for. Tickets charged for but not obtained will be refunded and will be deemed void for claim purposes.
  1. In the event of failure of a Mecca Max electronic bingo terminal, Mecca Bingo will continue with the game in play and any further game(s) scheduled to be played whilst the faulty Mecca Max electronic bingo terminal is swapped for an alternative (if available). Customers who are unable to participate in a game or games from beginning to end due to a technical failure of the system will be entitled to a refund of the ticket(s) that they were not able to play and the refunded ticket(s) will be deemed void for claim purposes.
  1. If more Mecca Max electronic bingo terminals fail than there are spare units available, the electronic bingo game may be aborted, but the playing of bingo will continue with prize money being recalculated.
  1. When marking off numbers, the Customer should either touch anywhere on the tickets displayed area on the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit or opt in to the auto dab option on screen which will mark off numbers as they are generated.
  1. When using the auto dab option on Mecca Max, the responsibility for stopping the game remains with the Customer as detailed below.
  1. If any Customer completes the combination in play (including use of any automatic marking function on Mecca Max or any other device), they must call out promptly to stop the game and, if required, press the electronic claim button on the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit. The claim must be registered before the next number is called. The winning bingo ticket must contain the last number called.
  1. In the event of failure of a slot machine game, automated bingo game or any other game provided on a Mecca Max terminal, the customer will be entitled to a refund of the stake on the affected game(s) and the incomplete game(s) will be deemed void for claim purposes.
  1. Malicious damage to, loss of or non-return of a Mecca Max electronic bingo terminal by a Customer may result in Mecca Bingo seeking reimbursement of the replacement cost of the Mecca Max electronic bingo unit from that Customer and/or a restriction to future play.

Side Games on Max

The following rules relate to the Side Games offered game on Mecca Max Electronic Bingo Terminals.

  1. Side Games are optional games played at an additional cost alongside Main Games of 90 number bingo, with prize pools and pay tables determined by the type of Side Game and the stake level at which the Customer opts to play.
  1. The actual prize money won is determined by the number of calls required to mark off all 5 of the allocated Lucky Line numbers. The prize money will be displayed in the Lucky Lines game panel as each call number is issued.
  1. To win on this game a Customer must mark off all 5 numbers from their Lucky Line prior to the prize fund displayed reaching £0 or prior to the Main Game completing – whichever comes first.
  1. This game is self-validating, meaning that the Customer is not required to stop the Caller/Host for claims on the Lucky Lines game. Valid wins will be displayed in the Lucky Lines game panel and the amount won paid to the Customer’s electronic bingo account once the main game in play completes.
  1. Customers wishing to participate in the game must select the stake at which they wish to play prior to release of the second call number for the main game. The Customer is required to opt in to any game in which they wish to participate with no pre-purchase option available.
  1. Neither participation nor non-participation in the Lucky Lines game will influence the outcome of the Main Game in progress. Customers can win on both the Lucky Line Game and the Main Game during the same gaming event.
  1. Customers winning on the Main Game are still required to stop the Caller/Host as detailed in point 9 of the Rules of Playing Bingo.

 

Effective from 8 July 2024