MP’s from both Scotland and Wales have warned that the future of their land based bingo clubs are now at serious risk over the past few weeks. Bingo players throughout the UK, Scotland and Wales are very concerned with the present situation after the UK Government in their infinite wisdom decided to discriminate against the game of land based bingo by hiking up the tax duty from 15% to 22% across the board. The reason why we say ‘Discriminate’ is that other gaming sectors like sports betting and casino only have to pay 15% tax, which is why the tax on bingo is wholly unjustifiable in many people’s eyes. 

The fight between the bingo industry and the UK Government has been going on for many years......first they had to deal with an absurd double taxation law that see them pay both VAT and tax. This was finally and rightfully abolished in the budget 2009, but in its place the Government decided to raise bingo duty to 22%.

This will effect smaller independent bingo halls really hard as lots of them did fall under the radar of the double taxation law, but that will not be the case with the rise in bingo duty.

On the Dundee SNP Blog, MP Stewart Hosie said, “This tax hike on bingo which is a highly popular social activity, when duty on other forms of gambling including sports betting, casino and online poker and football pools will remain at 15% is unfair. In scores of communities across Scotland, the bingo club is a vital part of the social fabric. It offers good quality, safe entertainment and social facilities providing fun, enjoyment and friendship for many people, particularly women. This Westminster tax-hike in the midst of the deepest recession for more than 60 years will affect many in my constituency and across Scotland.”

“Bingo clubs may have to close in Scotland in the Labour government will not end its policy of tax discrimination. Since 2006, approximately 90 bingo clubs across the UK have closed. This week, I have received hundreds of letters from customers of Dundee’s bingo clubs and from staff too, all concerned with the situation. We are not calling for preferential treatment for bingo clubs, simply a level playing field to allow this important social amenity to continue and to cater for the large number of my constituents who regularly use bingo clubs.”

It really is unbelievable how the UK Government even think that they can justify such a hike in tax on bingo duty. Bingo players up and down the County and now starting to realise just what a grave situation the bingo industry is now in, which is why many of them are definitely backing bingo....calling on the Government to see sense for once and scrap this law.