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UK bingo industry criticizes government13 March 2008UNITED KINGDOM -- As reported by the UK Times: "The Treasury was today accused of delivering a 'slap in the face' to the bingo industry after it ignored calls to remove the double taxation burden on clubs. "The industry had been hoping the Chancellor would remove the anomaly whereby bingo clubs, unlike casinos and betting shops, have to pay both VAT at 17.5 per cent and a gross profits tax of 15 per cent. "Bingo operators had warned the Government that the removal of VAT was necessary to prevent further club closures in an industry already badly hit by last year's smoking ban and the scrapping of high-payout Section 21 gaming machines. "...Ian Burke, chief executive of Rank Group, the owner of Mecca Bingo, pointed out that the Treasury had actually increased the overall tax burden on bingo clubs by imposing an inflationary rise on amusement machine licence duty..." |