|
July 10, 2009
In an extremely disappointing turn of events, the Government ignored the appeals of the land based bingo industry in the UK and has retained the new increased rates for bingo tax. Bingo clubs will have to pay the steep rate of 22%.
The UK bingo industry has been facing one of the worst crises in its entire history with numerous bingo halls closing down across the country. Not only are people across the UK losing jobs and incomes, an established social network is slowly breaking down.
The bingo industry has campaigned long and hard to have the bingo tax reduced but it seems all these efforts have come to nought. Top bosses of bingo companies are quite shocked at this cavalier treatment of the industry. It is as if the bingo industry has been singled out. Not only has the smoking ban, enforced strictly, dealt a crippling blow to bingo businesses with club attendances plummeting, a minimum wage that sent up expenses, various other bingo reforms that also increased expenditure, this unfair tax at 22% seems to be the final blow that is forcing bingo businesses to go under.
From the big multiple venue operators to the smaller single venue operators, bingo businesses across the board are struggling to survive. A strong argument against the tax was raised, especially because only bingo halls among all gambling clubs have to pay 22% of profits as a tax. Other gaming clubs still pay 15%. The reason for this discrimination is completely a mystery.
Numerous MPs from constituencies across the UK raised their hands in support of this campaign to reduce bingo tax. The representative of a group of independent bingo clubs, Mr. Holt said “A thriving bingo club paying 15 percent is much better than a struggling club paying 22 percent planning to close."
The UK bingo industry can now only look for ways to survive and hope that the Government will reconsider its decision.
Written by Rhea Williams for Bingo Street – Take advantage of the hottest online bingo promotions and free bingo games.
To read previous news please check out our bingo news archive.
To subscribe to our RSS feed and recieve the news daily please click the button: 
| 
