Seventeen MPs attended the reception, including Gambling Minister John Penrose and Shadow Gambling Minister Clive Efford, as well as several members of the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport which is due to publish the findings of its inquiry on gambling shortly. The attending members of the Bingo Association represented bingo clubs of varying size from up and down the country.

The event was a huge success, and demonstrated the ever growing support towards the bingo industry which continues to develop among Parliamentarians.

Machine Games Duty (MGD) rates

As previously announced, MGD will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2012 and introduced on 1 February 2013. The Chancellor has today announced that the standard rate of MGD will be 20 per cent, and the lower rate will be 5 per cent of net takings. The lower rate will apply to machines with maximum stakes of 10 pence and maximum cash prizes of £8.

The introduction of MGD will be revenue neutral for the exchequer. The policy costings document published alongside the Budget outlines how this has been calculated.

Remote gambling taxation

Following the Treasury’s review of the taxation of remote gambling in autumn 2011, the Government has today announced that it will move to taxing remote gambling on a place of consumption basis. A consultation on design characteristics of the new regime will follow in due course.

It is proposed that the current 15% rate that applies to remote gambling will be maintained, and that the reform will be implemented on 1 December 2014. However, both the rates and the exact implementation date will be kept under review. The legislation will be passed in a future Finance Bill.

As announced in December 2011, the Government will also introduce double taxation relief for general betting duty, remote gaming duty and pool betting duty for accounting periods ending on or after 1 April 2012. The legislation will be passed in Finance Bill 2012.

Gaming duty bands and Amusement Machine Licence Duty (AMLD) rates

Gaming duty bands and AMLD rates will be revalorised in line with inflation. Gaming duty bands will increase in line with RPI for accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2012. All AMLD rates will increase in line with RPI from 4pm on 23 March 2012.  The New Rates will be as follows:
Category A currently   £6,110, NEW rate £6,295
Category B1 currently £3,055, NEW rate £3,150
Category B2 currently £2,405, NEW rate £2,480
Category B3 currently £2,405, NEW rate £2,480
Category B4 currently £2,185, NEW rate £2,250
Category C currently   £   905, NEW rate £   935

Key links

The key Budget documents can be accessed at the following links:

The main Budget document: http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2012_complete.pdf

An Overview of Tax Legislation and Rates: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/index.htm

Policy costings document (for MGD and remote gambling): http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2012_policy_costings.pdf

The 2012 Finance Bill will be published on 29 March.

The cost of the licence (yet to be determined) will be an extra source of revenue to the Exchequer from the gambling industry. At present, bingo pays 20% tax, online bingo 15% and an offshore bingo website 0%. If the offshore sites now have to pay a license fee, we hope that will enable excessive taxation on bingo to be reduced.

As well as bringing in revenue to the UK, the proposals are also to ensure that British consumers will enjoy consistent standards of protection, no matter which online gambling site they visit. For example, overseas operators will be required to inform the UK regulator about suspicious betting patterns to help fight illegal activity and corruption in sports betting. We welcome these changes.

The measures are good news for customers and for clubs alike. However, they do not offset concerns about the continuing high levels of bingo tax, as well as new worries over the new Machines Gaming Duty that will soon be introduced.

That this House recognises the important social and community role that bingo plays across the United Kingdom; believes the current 20 per cent. gross profit tax on bingo should be lowered to 15 per cent. to bring it in line with taxation on other forms of gambling; and supports a new report by the Bingo Association and Ernst and Young that demonstrates that such a reduction in taxation would have significant benefits for the Exchequer and would raise an additional 65 million in the period from 2011 to 2014.

Aldous, Peter Conservative Party Waveney 29.06.2011

Betts, Clive Labour Party Sheffield South East 14.06.2011

Binley, Brian Conservative Party Northampton South 14.06.2011

Brady, Graham Conservative Party Altrincham and Sale West 14.06.2011

Burt, Lorely Liberal Democrats Solihull 15.06.2011

Campbell, Ronnie Labour Party Blyth Valley 15.06.2011

Cooper, Rosie Labour Party West Lancashire 16.06.2011

Crausby, David Labour Party Bolton North East 21.06.2011

Davies, Philip Conservative Party Shipley 14.06.2011

Dobbin, Jim Labour Party Heywood and Middleton 15.06.2011

Doran, Frank Labour Party Aberdeen North 28.06.2011

Durkan, Mark Social Democratic and Labour Party Foyle 15.06.2011

Foster, Don Liberal Democrats Bath 14.06.2011

Glindon, Mary Labour Party North Tyneside 20.06.2011

Godsiff, Roger Labour Party Birmingham Hall Green 22.06.2011

Halfon, Robert Conservative Party Harlow 14.06.2011

Hancock, Mike Liberal Democrats Portsmouth South 16.06.2011

Hemming, John Liberal Democrats Birmingham Yardley 14.06.2011

Henderson, Gordon Conservative Party Sittingbourne and Sheppey 30.06.2011

Hopkins, Kelvin Labour Party Luton North 16.06.2011

Kirby, Simon Conservative Party Brighton Kemptown 27.06.2011

Leech, John Liberal Democrats Manchester Withington 16.06.2011

Morris, Grahame M Labour Party Easington 21.06.2011

Osborne, Sandra Labour Party Ayr Carrick and Cumnock 22.06.2011

Owen, Albert Labour Party Ynys Môn 21.06.2011

Pugh, John Liberal Democrats Southport 30.06.2011

Rotheram, Steve Labour Party Liverpool Walton 17.06.2011

Roy, Lindsay Labour Party Glenrothes 20.06.2011

Russell, Bob Liberal Democrats Colchester 30.06.2011

Sanders, Adrian Liberal Democrats Torbay 15.06.2011

Stuart, Graham Conservative Party Beverley and Holderness 14.06.2011

Weir, Mike Scottish National Party Angus 16.06.2011

See a video of his visit, here.

DJs Chris Moyles, Greg James and the breakfast show team shocked regulars when they popped into the Rex on Denton Street for a round and some dinner.

The visit was kept top secret until the last minute because of security. Staff weren’t even told that the stars were stopping by until an hour before they visited.

Charlotte Kennedy, marketing manager of Opera Bingo, seized an opportunity to host the Radio 1 stars with a chance email to the station. She was thrilled when they took her up on the offer.

Charlotte told the News and Star: “I knew Chris and Greg were broadcasting from Cumbria this week so I sent invited them to come along. The whole gang, 16 of them, turned up and they really enjoyed themselves.

“I think it was a bit of a shock for the staff and the customers but everyone had a great night.”

Throughout the breakfast show yesterday morning the team talked about their night at the bingo and the food they ate. They even developed a game inspired by the experience.

Charlotte added: “Chris and Greg talked about their night at the bingo on air which is fantastic.

“We were able to give them a home cooked dinner too. “There was steak pie, scampi and chips and Cumberland sausage.”

She added: “They played traditional bingo with the books and Dave and Aled also had a go at the electronic bingo.

“Unfortunately none of them won a game. But despite this, it appears to have turned them into bingo fans.”

Original source: News&Star

Tom Greatrex MP said:

“I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Mecca Bingo in Rutherglen this week. Sadly I didn’t manage to get involved in a game whilst I was there – although I am not sure I would have been able to keep up, and have a new appreciation for those who are able to keep a close eye on several books at the one time.

As well being able to meet with local people, and pick up a few tips from experienced bingo players, the visit also gave me the chance to discuss the level of taxation imposed on bingo.

Bingo has a very important social function in communities throughout my constituency, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds for a fun few hours. It is concerning, then, that bingo should be subject to higher levels of taxation than other forms of gambling. I have written to the Tory Treasury Minister, Justine Greening MP, about this, calling for tax on bingo to be reduced.

I am grateful to the staff at the Rutherglen Mecca for taking the time to meet with me, in particular the manager Julia Griffin.”

Alan Johnson, the former Home Secretary and current Shadow Chancellor visited his Mecca Bingo at Hull Cecil within his constituency, Kingston Upon Hull West and Hessle, on Friday 12^th November to call some numbers and find out how the industry is being damaged by excessive and unfair taxation.

It is widely recognised that bingo clubs play an important role within their communities, bringing people together and aiding social inclusion. Despite this, bingo clubs remain subject to a higher rate of taxation (20% Gross Profit Tax) than other forms of gambling, including online bingo (15%) and high street bookmakers (15%).

Steve Jones from Mecca Hull Cecil said he was delighted that Alan had visited his local club. Steve said: “We appreciate Alan taking time out of hjs busy schedule to visit the club and talk to the team members about the social importance of bingo and its place in the local community. We hope that he will be able to use his role as Shadow Chancellor to press for a reduction in the unfair taxation of bingo.”

Alan said: “This is my first visit to the club and it was good to see first-hand just how important bingo is to customers from a social interaction perspective.”

Alan continued: “Mecca Bingo plays a key role in local communities so it’s important that they are subject to a fair tax regime.”