UK Bingo Clubs in Serious Decline
UK land based bingo clubs are now in serious decline with many people having to travel miles to have a day or night out playing bingo. Scotland has been one of the worst hit areas along with lots of rural communities. As the bingo industry looks to tighten their reins inevitable clubs closures have taken place.
Many factors have been blamed for the decline in UK bingo clubs, the smoking ban hit bingo hard as well as other business especially UK pubs. Smoking may now be frowned upon by many, but the fact remains playing bingo, drinking and smoking went hand in hand for lots of people…..take away one and you take away the other!
The game of online bingo became a lifeline for lots of bingo players who wanted to smoke whilst enjoying a game of bingo because the game can be played from the comfort of your own home, where you are able to smoke, eat, drink (although drinking is not advised whist gambling) even play bingo in your pyjamas.
Online bingo was feared by the bingo industry when it first made its way onto the internet back in 1996 and righty so, as it provided players with another bingo playing avenue which was open to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and where no travelling time or costs were involved.
Many of the bingo industry leaders like Mecca Bingo, Gala Bingo and Top Ten Bingo embraced the game of online bingo and now all run very successful online bingo sites themselves. However you cannot get away from the fact that online bingo has had an adverse effect on land based bingo clubs to some extent.
Bingo Tax has been another huge bone of contention for bingo clubs. First they had an unbelievable double taxation law placed upon them where they had to pay both tax and VAT on profits. VAT tribunal cases were taken to the European Union and subsequently won meaning millions of pounds worth of VAT could be paid back to business including bingo companies in the months and years to come.
In the 2008 budget the double taxation law on bingo was abolished, most likely due to the VAT tribunal cases, but in its place the UK Government in its infinite wisdom decided to hike up bingo duty tax from 15% to 22% even though other gaming sectors including the game of online bingo remain at the 15% threshold.
To this end it is no wonder the UK bingo clubs are now in serious decline.
