Join the ‘I’m backing Bingo’ campaign

Some of the biggest names in the bingo industry, represented by both online bingo and land based bingo halls have joined together as one voice to start a special campaign to try to reverse the Governments new taxation policy. As our regular readers will be aware the Government in the last budget changed the gross profit taxation on bingo halls to 22% whereas most other industries including other forms of gambling attract 15%.

The campaigners are all concerned that the extra taxation will end up killing an already struggling high street bingo industry. Since the introduction of the smoking ban in the UK, changes to slot machine legislation, changes to peoples lifestyles and now the current economic global crisis, more and more high street bingo halls have been closing, causing alarm not only in the industry but also amongst players who see their favourite harmless pastime being killed before their eyes.

The new campaign which was originally championed by Mecca Bingo has now gained further momentum by other major influential names joining the cause including; The Bingo Association, Gala Bingo, Rank Group, Buckingham Bingo (including Bucky Bingo), Castle Carlton Bingo. In the new campaign the industry is calling on everyone who is involved in the industry, players, family members and the general public to follow a three step strategy to put pressure on the Government to re-think their taxation policy on bingo halls.

The campaign is asking that supporters add strength to the cause by firstly signing an online petition, then by joining a Facebook group and then finally by also writing to their MP. Clearly the Government see the bingo industry as a soft target but they are forgetting how popular bingo is amongst the general public, and the whimper is quite quickly turning into a public roar, the PM and the Chancellor of the Exchequer best watch out as they have certainly unleashed the beast!