Government refuses to lower bingo tax
10th July, 2009
Gaming Alerts have closely followed the protests about the amount of tax that bingo halls has to pay, for example in our earlier article parliament makes a decision over bingo tax hike. We are disappointed to report that the protestor’s efforts had little effect.
The government met last Wednesday about the possibility of ditching the 22% that bingo halls currently have to pay on their profits in comparison to the 15% similar industries have to pay.
However the bingo industries hopes were quashed when they were told that rates would stay the same. Many feel that the industry is being singled out after the repercussions of the smoking ban and the introduction of the minimum wage, deeply cutting into profit margins.
A representative from an independent bingo hall commented, “a thriving bingo club paying 15 percent is much better than a struggling club paying 22 percent that’s planning to close”.
Not only are people being put out of work as a direct result, a whole social community is breaking down slowly due to the Government’s actions.
By Faye
