Bingo Slump Forces More Club Closures

by Hollie Sanders

Big bosses in the British Bingo industry are really giving the Government a hard time over the fact that they appear to be completely distanced from the fact that the slum in the industry is causing more and more bingo hall closures. I really don’t blame them, but judging by the effect that all the hue and cry has had so far, I wonder if they are not quite simply flogging a dead horse?

Paul Talboys of the British Bingo Association recently announced that bingo bosses have completely freaked out about the fact that Gerry Sutcliffe said that something was going to be done and still nothing has happened. In my opinion this is an absolute crime, I mean what will it take for the Government to actually realize that there are some serious problems going down?

Nothing has changed in the last six months to indicate that the double taxation, non-smoking and high paying jackpot machines being removed from bingo clubs has not affected their business. Quite the opposite in fact and the bingo industry in the UK is struggling on, trying to pull rabbits out of their hats to come up with solutions, none of which seem to be working.

Taking a look at this total lack of commitment to the important social factor of bingo and the fact that clubs are closing down on a regular basis, surely the Government can see that something is drastically wrong. It is my sincere wish that the British bingo hall is not relegated to the back rooms of the British Natural History Museum, much as many other great, yet extinct British institutions are. However I am afraid is something is not done soon, they may be become a thing of the past.