Bingo Industry Needs Government Help

External factors making conditions tough for bingo operators.

The UK bingo industry requires more government support to help it respond to "external changes", a spokesperson for the Bingo Association has claimed.

Cherry Hosking, administration manager at the trade association for bingo operators, said that several factors had made conditions difficult for bingo firms before the onset of the credit crunch.

Although stressing that the Bingo Association has supported the introduction of the smoking ban, she explained that such legislation has nevertheless had a major impact on the bingo industry.

"Some people just don't go and play anymore, or they leave the hall during the sessions and that does mean that your income is lower," Ms Hosking commented.

She said that the government should introduce tax changes to support bingo operators, as the pools industry has received help when confronted with similar challenges in the past.

"They changed their tax regime in 1995, 1999 and 2002. We'd quite like that help too."

According to the Bingo Association, there are 3.1 million regular bingo players in the UK.