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We all sat and waited in anticipation for the Budget to be announced by Alistair Darling yesterday, but what a complete let down it turned out to be.
Was this a “Darling” of a budget? Well not if you work in the Bingo Industry it wasn’t, or Drink, Smoke or even drive a car come to that. The Bingo Industries calls for a reprieve, went completely unanswered and not only was the VAT not removed, but their tax burden has now been increased also! They now face paying higher rates of Amusement Machine License Duty (AMLD). Unlike Casinos and Betting Shops the Bingo Industry are the only sector that has to pay 17.5% VAT, plus a gross profit Tax of 15%, which is a double taxation law laid out by the government.
Paul Talboys, who is the chief executive of the Bingo Association, had this to say on the matter, “This is a slap in the face for bingo players across the country. There is no reason why they should continue to be penalized by double taxation when other gambling products pay only a single tax. The industry is struggling to deal with the combined impact of double taxation, the removal of gaming machines and the impact of the smoking ban."
The Rank Group’s Chief Executive, Ian Burke, said “It’s deeply disappointing but we will continue to present our case as there is no logic to taxing us twice. They’ve made the wrong economic judgment."
Bingo is loved and played by millions of people across the UK and it is one of our nation’s favourite leisure activities to partake in, it has been said that 103 bingo clubs are still at high risk of closure. Yesterday’s Budget could of lessened the burden for the bingo Industry and helped to have prevented any more of our much loved bingo halls closing down, but as it seems this was not to be.
What is the message the Government are trying to give us do you think? If you have any kind of vice, you will pay dearly for it, from what I can see!! And Bingo Players could soon be counting the cost of even more disruption to the game they love, when the inevitable it likely to now happen and more land based bingo clubs get closed down!! Shakes Head in utter disbelieve, money is the name of the game as they say!
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