Uncertain future for Kingdom bingo clubs

That's the view of Mike Lowe, operations manager of Premier Bingo, who spoke to The Press this week about his fears for the industry.

He has called for the Government to tax the bingo industry in the same way as it does the rest of the gaming industry.

His call comes just a week after MSPs, including Mid Scotland and Fife's Claire Baker, once again considered a petition lodged by Mr Lowe at the Public Petitions committee of the Scottish Parliament.

The petition, first lodged in February, urges the Scottish Government to recognise bingo clubs have been hit by both the smoking ban and an unfair system of taxation.

It goes on to urge the parliament to make representations to the UK Government to tax the bingo industry in the same way as it does the rest of the gaming industry.

MSPs decided to seek an update on the issues raised in the petition from the Scottish Government when they discussed the petition last week.

Claire Baker said the bingo industry was also faced with an "ageing clientele" and added: "We need to wait for a response from the Treasury to find out what the justification is for the taxation situation that bingo clubs are in at the moment."

Mike Lowe told The Press the tax situation coupled with the effects of the smoking ban has had a "dramatic effect" on the bingo industry.

He said: "We pay VAT and Gross Profits Tax (GPT). It's an unfair taxation system so what we're asking is to give us some VAT relief and this would go some of the way to providing bingo operators with some breathing space. There's a good chance that further operators won't have to close if they do get this."

By Cara Dodson