Just in case the land based operators didn’t quite make it to rock bottom, the UK government decided to replace the possibility, with probability; and without hesitation, introduced a new crippling tax rate - Despite the fact that anyone and everyone, who knows anything about the Bingo industry, said this would be the final straw to break the Camels back. At this point, the days of Winnie the Pooh and Danny la Rue seemed numbered. Indeed, this has turned out to be one of those times when everyone would love NOT to say, “I told you so”. Unfortunately, the inevitable has happened.
The UK government, in their infinite wisdom, have ensured that already vulnerable Bingo Halls have been forced to close their doors, permanently. In addition, the operators who actually manage to make money, have packed their bags for Gibraltar. Well, that worked guys! didn’t it? So, what do we have now? If you're lucky, you still have your local Bingo Hall. However, the real question is, “for how long”? Of course, the government has defended its decisions, all the way. Over and over again, when questioned, Angela Eagle (treasury minister) just keeps on repeating herself, "the level of taxation for bingo is about the average for gambling". And? So when is this idealised philosophy going to be replaced by reality? Has she not considered, if there are no bingo halls, then there are no taxes… Surely, 15% of something is better than 22% of nothing? Or am I working from a different abacus here??? Hey! Haven’t we heard this somewhere before? Isn’t that kind of, there is no bread, “so let them eat cake”… How detached can they be? The story continues…
This was an article by Lisa writen for Bingo Faces on Bingo Halls
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