Bingo Hall Duties

The saga that has surrounded the land based bingo industry is still buzzing. Over the last couple of months a large campaign around reducing bingo hall duties payable has gained momentum across the UK. With the 2014 Budget due to take place next week, the campaigners will know their fate soon.

Currently Bingo Halls are paying a 20% duty, and both bingo halls and their players are campaigning to bring this down to at least 15% which is fair to say will be in line with all other betting shops so to speak.

Sadly Bingo has taken a huge battering over the last couple of years, and this duty saga has not helped matters at all. It is reported that land based bingo halls are closing their doors at a rate of at least one a month, a very sad state of affairs as this is a community based past time for so many who would otherwise live behind closed doors like a recluse. This is for some the only outlet they have to entertainment and more importantly companionship.

Currently there is a 300,000 strong petition which has been delivered to Downing Street, so it is now up to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take an in depth look at the situation and bring the bingo hall duties in line with all other forms of gambling.

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