A Lifeline For High Street Bingo?

Asz expected, Gerry Sutcliffe the UK Sports Minister has given high street bingo a small boost by enabling them to offer a larger number of high stake, high jackpot slot machines in bingo halls. The move is an attempt to aid an industry that has hit turmoil over the past year or so following the smoking ban and a seemingly anomalous double taxation.

The move increases the number of machines permitted from four to eight, although many bingo industry leaders wanted the number to be increased to sixteen in a bid to attract as many people as possible. The proposed reform still needs to enter a three month consultation period, but it is expected to be passed by October of this year.

The news may do something to prevent landslide of bingo clubs that are closing their doors in the UK. 37 bingo halls have closed over the 2007/2008 period marking a significant decline in what was once a popular and profitable industry.

Some debate had previously emerged over the issue of increasing high jackpot machines in bingo halls because of the government's commitment to encouraging responsible gambling. As such, numbers for adult arcades and seaside resort arcades are not expected to increase.

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