We won't let tax hike close our bingo clubs (From Echo)

We won't let tax hike close our bingo clubs

4:00pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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THE news Gala Bingo in Pitsea will close on July 28 has upset hundreds of people. But despite the sadness, few players said they were surprised.

Bingo halls across the country are counting the cost after the Government hiked the tax halls pay on revenue from 15 per cent to 22 per cent in May following the Budget.

It is thought the change will cost the industry around £35million per year at a time when bingo halls are struggling to cope because of the recession and the smoking ban, which has put many people off.

Bingo players say there is more to the game than making money. It is also about providing a much-enjoyed pastime and place to meet friends.

Young mum Vikki March is a keen bingo fan and won more than £20,000 on a game in 2006.

The 22-year-old from Sou-thend said the activity is important to help people mix and socialise.

She said: “My nan goes once or twice a week to Mecca in Southend.

“She really enjoys it. Bingo is a big part of her life.

“She goes there to see her friends as well as playing the bingo.

“It would be a huge loss for people if they had to close.

“It is enjoyable to play as well, even if you don’t win anything.

“If you win your money back then it’s even better.”

Since 2003, approximately 4,000 jobs have been lost in the bingo industry and more than 90 clubs have closed in the past three years alone.

The UK’s biggest bingo operator Gala Coral is to close five clubs and shed backroom staff, putting about 300 jobs at risk.

Bosses at Mecca bingo in Southend criticised the way the tax is calculated.

Marc Greenberg, operations manager of the hall in Greyhound Way, said: “It just doesn’t seem fair that someone can go to the bookies and place a bet and only pay 15 per cent tax, while one of our customers has to pay 22 per cent.

“To our customers, this is about so much more than just bingo.

“For some, this is the only opportunity they have to socialise with other people and it would be criminal if clubs are forced to close because the Government is discriminating against one of the nation’s favourite past times.”

But the industry is not taking this blow sitting down.

Yesterday, bingo firms joined forces to hold a demonstration at the Houses of Parliament.

Mecca and Gala Bingo, the two largest bingo firms, along with seven independent operators and hundreds of customers from across the UK went to London to voice their concerns.

David Holt, manager of Rio Bingo, in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, said: “Why the Government is doing this is a mystery.

“It hasn’t raised the tax on bookies or casinos, but it wants to cripple bingo clubs. It needs to see sense before more clubs are put out of business.”

The industry has launched a campaign, I’m Backing Bingo, to overturn the tax increase.

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