UK Government Extends Aid to Bingo Industry
The UK government has finally taken some steps to relieve the country’s struggling land bingo industry by allowing bingo halls to increase their number of 500 Pound slot machines.
Gerry Sutcliffe, the UK Sports Minister, bowed to growing pressure that was placed on him by the UK bingo industry and said in an announcement yesterday that certain one-off measures would be taken to provide relief to bingo halls that have seen a decline of 14% in the past four years.
Besides having to compete with the growing popularity of online bingo sites, land-based bingo halls have also been hit with a double taxation law and a smoking ban. However, the worst effects of the new gambling legislation were felt when bingo halls had to limit their number of 1 Pound-stake/500 Pound-prize slot machines to only four.
Sutcliffe announced that bingo halls may now have eight of these slot machines on their premises, in the hope that they will provide much needed profits to the businesses.
“Bingo clubs also play a crucial role in many communities and we want to see that continue,” said Sutcliffe. “For some people, especially older and retired women, bingo is their main leisure pursuit. It is therefore of great concern that nearly 100 bingo clubs have closed in the last four years.”
“Having listened carefully to the case put forward by bingo clubs, I am persuaded that a number of special circumstances apply to the bingo industry. I’m confident that allowing a small increase in bingo clubs, where gaming machines are not the main reason for people to attend, will provide much needed help to struggling clubs without putting public protection at risk. I hope to implement these plans by the end of the year.”
