More MPs join the battle for bingo halls

 

A few months ago some English MP's called for the tax on bingo to be put on an equal footing with casino and bookmakers.  Now a member of the scottish parliament has joined the fight for the survival of land based bingo halls.  Glasgow MSP Bob Doris has motioned a proposal that would lower the amount of tax bingo halls pay.

 

Land based bingo halls currently pay the same as casinos and bookmakers but have to pay vat too.  That means they pay a huge amount of tax which is set to criple them in the wake of the UK smoking ban. 

 

He told the Evening Times: bingo clubs provide a safe, social environment in local communities that many other entertainments cannot replicate.

 

“Why is it that Royal Ascot is not subject to a VAT rate that the Gala Bingo in Maryhill is? His point rings true with many other MP's and bingo players alike and would give land based bingo halls a fighting chance of survival. Whether this motion will be put in to affect remains uncertain, but one thing that is certain is online bingo will continue to grow even if the land based game does fall apart.