Further Bingo Club Closures On The Horizon

More bad news for bingo players as Gala Coral considers venue closures.

Gala Coral is preparing to close several of its bingo venues as the fallout from the government's tax increase continues, it has been claimed.

According to the Times, the privately-owned gambling firm is set to consult staff on the closure of six of its 156 clubs in the UK, potentially putting 180 jobs at risk.

Insiders told the newspaper that Gala Coral may consider selling a further 40 to 50 clubs over the next two years as it attempts to offload its least profitable venues.

Gala, which is backed by the private equity companies Candover, Cinven and Permira, announced 200 job losses in November last year in an initial attempt to streamline its gaming operations.

The entire bingo industry has been hit by the government's decision to push the duty charged on profits up from 15 per cent to 22 per cent in this year's Budget.

Mecca Bingo issued a profit warning immediately after the tax hike was announced in April, estimating that its profits will be reduced by about £6 million this year as a result.