Brown Fails to Address UK Bingo Problems

by Hollie Sanders

The beleaguered UK bingo industry (not applicable I might add to online bingo) has really been going through a hard time in the past year or so, what with political and regulatory changes happening left right and centre. There was a change in the gambling act, whose intention was actually to regulate gambling per se, not soft gambling as bingo is considered to be, then the smoking ban, and more recently the refusal of the Government to address the fact that land based bingo in the UK is unfairly taxed. Unfairly I say, because all other gaming activities, even online bingo is not subject to this unfair taxation. In my belief this is completely unfair as well as ridiculous.

Anyway, the upshot of all this is that Gerry Sutcliffe told the Bingo Association annual general meeting that he was looking at ways to help the industry (he is Minister of Culture and they are responsible for gambling by the way!). So he tells the industry that he is preparing a statement to the House and he goes so far as to state “I think it is fair to say that the Prime Minister is sympathetic to bingo – and recognises the role of bingo halls in supporting their local communities.” Mr. Sutcliffe even went so far as to hint that bingo clubs would be allowed to have more ₤500 jackpot machines.

This might have appeared to be a “ray of light” for the bingo industry however, the wheels of Government appear to be turning even more slowly than usual, and it seems that Mr. Sutcliffe is sitting on his promise to the bingo industry and absolutely nothing is happening, I say shame on him!