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09.12.2009
A leading leisure expert has attacked the Government’s Pre-Budget Report announcement today to reduce bingo duty from 22%-20% as “far too little far too late” to arrest the rate of closures of bingo halls across the country.
London-based Gerald Eve partner Daniel Anning said: “Whilst this will be perceived as a positive move by some, it is important to recognise that the rate of tax applied to sport betting, betting exchanges, casino games (in most casinos), internet gambling (including internet bingo) and football pools is levied at 15%.
“Mecca had lobbied for bingo tax to be reduced in line with that levied elsewhere – and at 20%, the bingo industry will still be taxed at a 33% competitive disadvantage. Given that more than 100 bingo clubs have recently closed and that the Bingo Association calculates that 4 bingo clubs a month have closed since the Budget in April 2009 I would say this tax reduction is far too little far too late. It is unlikely, in my opinion, to arrest the rate of decline in the industry”.
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