Nick Harding, chief executive of Praesepe, owner of the Beacon Bingo chain, has praised the UK government for cutting the rate of duty on bingo to 10 per cent.
Following Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget speech, Harding said: "At last we have a government which has had the vision to support the UK bingo industry and which recognises how important it has been to generations of players for over 50 years.
“Reducing the unfair tax burden which the previous government had imposed on UK bingo plc means that clubs all over the country will now be able to start to reinvest and provide their players with the modern facilities that they deserve.”
Bingo, he said, provides a source of gaming entertainment for millions of people throughout the country.
“The Beacon Bingo clubs play an important role in the communities they serve and Conservative MP Brian Binley, whose constituency includes the Beacon club in Northampton, has gone on the record stating the bingo sector plays a more useful role in society than some social services that the government provides.
“The decision to reduce the duty by 50 per cent represents a ringing endorsement of the sector and a victory for common sense."
