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July 2, 2009
Bingo enthusiasts from all over the UK yesterday thronged to Parliament Square in support of the campaign against the high tax rate for UK bingo clubs.
More than 500 people turned out to show their support for the worthy cause, including representatives from the bingo industry and bingo operators, bingo players and even MPs to show their support for the campaign against the high bingo tax.
A classic red doubled decker open-top bus was filled with even more supporters, and drove around the square eliciting huge cheers from the crowd of bingo enthusiasts each time it completed a circuit.
Despite the sweltering heat, the demonstrators held their ground and were well armed with placards, each stating simple and often witty messages to the government: Hands off our balls!
The colourful placards drew attention to the 4000 jobs already lost due to closures of bingo halls across the UK, and asked the government to lower the bingo tax to a more reasonable 15%. Another placard stated simply: 1 & 5 keeps bingo alive!
Paul Talboys of the Bingo Association was present at the demonstration and told the BBC: "Bingo is life and death for a lot of people, particularly the elderly in the afternoons. There's not many places you can go nowadays where you can meet friends, have a cup of tea, even a glass of beer and maybe even win a few bob. They have fun and, without that, it's something else gone from local communities. It can't be right."
About 70 bingo clubs have closed recently across the UK, which includes the 5 bingo clubs announced by Gala Bingo earlier this week, also marked for imminent closure. The bingo industry estimates that if the tax rate remains the same, it could mean the end for another 30 bingo halls over the next few months.
The overwhelming message to the government is simple: Tax bingo fairly. The question that is raised over and over again is this: why should casinos and sportsbetting establishments pay just 15% tax and bingo halls be subjected to a high 22% tax rate?
Supporters of the campaign hope that yesterday's demonstration will draw even more attention to the plight of the UK bingo industry which is fighting to stay alive. With another bingo hall closing down almost daily in the UK, a vital lifeline to the local community for many of our elderly citizens is dying. Gordon Brown has a new reputation, stated succintly in one placard, as a Bingo Killer.
Written by Charlene Grey for Bingostreet – your daily resource for news and updates in the world of online bingo UK.
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