Today’s VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% will hit the leisure and gambling industries if analysts are to be believed. Although there is no actual VAT charged on bingo admission and bingo tickets other costs such as travel and food and drink will increase. With a tough financial year ahead for many in the UK there is no doubt that leisure purchases will decrease as proved during previous recessions.
Bingo Halls could even face other increased charge with many local authorities posed to increase the cost of the license required to operate bingo halls. Some councils are considering increases of up to 60% as they need to increase revenue due to reduced budgets for the coming year.
Bingo Halls have been hit hard over the last few years in many ways. The UK smoking ban hit attendances as did the poor economic climate. Perhaps though the biggest threat to bingo halls has been the rise in popularity of online bingo. If is a fact that online bingo can be enjoyed for a fraction of the price of live bingo. A few hours bingo can cost less than a pound online compared to an average of thirty pounds at a bingo hall when admission, travel, food and drink are taken in to consideration.
Originally posted 2011-01-05 18:16:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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