The petition is part of a national campaign called “Stop Destroying My Bingo”, that demonstrates how a range of measures including an unfair tax regime, increases in licence costs, legislative burdens and the impact of the smoking ban, is effectively sending clubs into meltdown. “The UK bingo industry employs over 22,000 people and pays in excess £270m a year in tax to the Treasury. These are significant figures that impact on the economy, both locally and nationally and facts that the Government to date appear to have ignored. By putting a petition into bingo clubs throughout the UK, the industry is seeking to demonstrate the strength of public opinion in respect of bingo and further add to the robust arguments for positive change,” said Sir Peter Fry, Bingo Association Chairman. While many of the clubs that are under threat are small independently operated venues, based in close communities, they all provide an essential social amenity. Larger industry operators such as Rank (owners of Mecca) and Gala also have severe concerns about the future commercial viability of venues under such an unfavourable regime of tax and legislation. “The future burden of operation facing clubs under such policies will be intolerable for many, forcing them to close. The Government must take action now to prevent the industry from being forced into drastic decline with resulting loss of social facilities, jobs and community,” added Fry. Britain’s three million predominantly female bingo players pay substantially more to the Treasury than their male counterparts at the bookies, as Bingo is one of the most highly taxed gambling activities. Since the introduction of the smoking ban in Scotland last year, which was supported by the Bingo Association, twelve clubs in the region have closed and others seen a severe downturn in business, with some smaller clubs already having moved into a loss making position and twenty clubs closed across the UK. The effect of a ban, due to be introduced later this year in England and Wales is expected to be substantially amplified. Bingo players are adding their voice to the campaign and are calling on government to take action on these policies and stop destroying the game. With new gaming regulation set for introduction in September 2007 this interim period is crucial to ensure that communities retain a key social facility and that clubs survive.

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