Eyes Down as Bingo Hall Battle Heats Up

First, it was the smoking ban and now the government's brutal bingo tax hike from 15% to 22% is putting even more pressure on the UK's long suffering bingo halls.

In the past three years, 117 bingo halls have closed nationally.

In Blackpool - arguably the spiritual home of bingo - local MP Joan Humble recently visited her local Mecca Bingo Hall to show her support for the industry.

Mrs Humble said taxation changes were part of a package of measures, including gains and losses, and she wanted to ensure bingo halls were being treated fairly.

She added: "I have been lobbied extensively at Westminster on the topic of bingo taxation. I wanted to take the opportunity to hear how the challenges facing the bingo industry are affecting businesses. It is important we maintain well-managed bingo clubs like Mecca."

"I have written to the Treasury asking them to re-examine the figures they are working on. I want to make sure the package of changes is a fair one."

The Bingo Association is lobbying hard against the increase in taxation and have produced a report from Ernst and Young that seems to indicate that the Treasury's calculations in setting Gross Profit Tax (GPT) for bingo were not accurate.

Paul Talboys, Chief Executive of The Bingo Association said:

"The industry has argued its case firmly with the Treasury, who in the face of a demonstration by bingo players in Westminster earlier this year stated that if we could provide evidence of error in their calculations then they would review the decision on GPT."