Rank and Gala Coral, have pushed for reform of the UK bingo industry’s tax regime and the industry leaders have gotten the support of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Now they are hoping the reform will be in the 2008 Budget.

There have been several problems hitting the UK bingo industry as of late including the 2007 smoking ban, an ageing customer base, increasing competition and the new Gambling Act. The UK Bingo operators pay a Gaming Duty (15%) and VAT (17.5%) tax and are the only sector in the gambling industry to have to do so.

Gala Coral's Chief Executive, Neil Goulden, said, "The message we are giving the Chancellor and the Prime Minister is 'if you give us the same tax treatment as other gambling industries, it will be an investment that will drive up admissions'."

The gambling act that the UK just implemented has resulted in a 19% decline in revenues at Rank’s Mecca Bingo in just over the month the act has been introduced. This is forcing the move to find alternative players, like pushing their online bingo products for a hopefully younger market base.


- 2008-01-07