Unfair Bingo Tax System Could Be Reviewed, EDM Introduced

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In what is widely being viewed as a first step in reconsidering the recent hike in bingo taxes by the UK Government, an Early Day Motion (EDM) introduced on the floor of Parliament by MP Dhanda Parmjit, has managed to secure the requisite 100 signatures for the motion to be passed in the house. The MP from the Labour Party had introduced the Early Day Motion to discuss the controversial bingo tax regime in Parliament.

Reliable sources state that the newly elected speaker of the house, Mr. John Bercow, MP from Tory, figures among the hundred names whose signatures are affixed on the EDM. Mr. Bercow signed on the EDM almost 7 days prior to his appointment as speaker in the House of Commons. Bob Spink, MP from Canvey Island is also another prominent parliamentarian expected to be in favor of the motion. Mr. Bob Spink is a former conservative party member, now he is in parliament as an independent. He had announced to the bingo industry his support of the EDM when he met senior member of the bingo industry Mr. David Holt and took a brief tour of the Rio Bingo Club in Canvey Island some time ago.

As per law, members of the serving ministry and government cannot vote on an EDM or make their views on the tax hike public. As such, the EDM has so far received support from 63 Labour party members, 11 Conservatives, 3 Independants, 17 Liberal Democrats, 1 Plaid Cymru, 4 SNPs, and 1 each from the Social and the Democratic Party. The EDM has thus, seen support cutting across party lines; this will finally prompt the lawmakers to participate in an open discussion as to the feasibilities and issues involved in the tax hike.

Many bingo industry stakeholders believe that the tax hike has been prompted by the government’s policy to subsidize the poorly performing financial sector during recession by levying unfair taxes from bingo industry which has proven to be quite recession resilient. The Chancellor, Alistair Darling had hiked tax on bingo from 15% to 22% in April’s budget. Since then, an already flogging land-based bingo business has taken a steep nosedive with several bingo clubs big and small, being shut down due to non-productivity. Gala Bingo recently announced closing down 6 of its bleeding clubs; more than 200 people lost their jobs due to this.

Bingo operators in the UK are expected to join together and protest against the tax regime on The Green outside the Parliament before the Finance Bill is tabled. After the recent VAT victory for Mecca Bingo in the High Court, it remains to be seen if this would be another positive break for the bingo industry.

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