UK Budget Bingo Industry Shocked at Increased Tax Burden

Bingo news of the Chancellor of Exchequer Alistair Darling not removing VAT from bingo charges has shocked the bingo industry. In fact, instead, the Chancellor has decided to increase the tax burden levied on bingo through higher rates of amusement machine license duty (AMLD).

 

Paul Talbovs, the chief executive of Bingo Association, describes this piece of bingo news to be ‘a slap in the face’ for bingo players in the country. This is because he says there is absolutely no need of players being penalized with double taxation when compared to other gambling products; there is only a single tax to be paid.

 

The bingo operators are complaining that they are the only people in the gambling industry that are hit by double taxation. The taxes they have to pay for bingo are 15% gaming duty and a VAT of 17.5%.

 

They state that bingo is a soft form of gambling, which is usually played by senior people and poor people, for lower stakes. With this increased tax burden, the industry warns that there is a possibility of hundreds of clubs closing down.

 

Moreover, bingo clubs have already been badly affected by the smoking ban and the loss of lucrative slot machines because of the changes that have been made to the regulations of the industry.

 

Bingo news from bingo reviewer.