SNP Treasury spokesman MP Steward Hosie has written to Treasury Minister Angela Eagle, calling for an end to the double taxation of bingo.
Under current taxation rules, bingo club revenues are subject to both VAT at 17.5% and gross profits tax of 15%. Bingo sector executives have pointed to this as a contributing factor to the closure of at least 100 clubs in the past 5 years.
Mr Hosie commented that “the UK Government’s treatment of the bingo sector is incredibly unfair and action needs to be taken to help the sector at this very difficult time.
“Licensed bingo remains the only gambling product subject to double taxation, which results in an effective tax rate of 28.2 per cent compared with 15 per cent for most other gambling products.
“Bingo is great fun but its importance cannot be underestimated. Bingo halls provide a safe and friendly environment for the whole community but especially older people to meet and socialise.
“The Government chose not to remove double taxation from bingo halls in 2003. The SNP have been keeping up the pressure to right this ever since and we will continue in the run up to the Pre-Budget statement.
“For the sake of fairness and for sound economic reasons, the UK Government must act to remove double taxation from bingo.”
Mr Hosie serves as an MP for the Dundee area.
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