Carshalton and Wallington MP stands in support of bingo

Unsure of whether this is a trend of sorts; another MP is set to oppose the government’s decision with regards to the bingo tax hike. The latest to join the ‘support bingo’ cause happens to be an MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Tom Brake. Brake has vehemently voiced out his opinion in support of the bingo industry.

Owing to the public smoking ban, bingo halls across the United Kingdom were affected by dwindling visitor numbers. In addition to this, the steep rise in taxes has made survival extremely difficult for offline bingo operators across the UK. Over the past 12 months it is owing to such decisions that many bingo clubs have either closed down, or moved base to more liberal locations, such as Gibraltar.

As many of these land based bingo halls struggle to meet overhead costs, in the near future, there are chances that more bingo halls may close down. Bingo operators cannot afford to pay a steep tax rise from 15% to 22% and are considering closing down to be their only option.

No other industry other than the bingo industry has mimicked a tax rise as steep as the bingo industry. Other subsectors in the gambling and betting industry such as sport betting shops, casinos etc are being taxed at a modest 15%.