Bingo Operators Seldis Cooper owner of Ritz Bingo club in Castleford met with Government Minister for Work and Pension Yvette Cooper last Friday to discuss the recent tax changes to Bingo. Yvette Cooper showed concern for the industry and agreed to look at the figures that illustrate the industry will be put in a worse financial position than prior to the budget.

Dave Holt, representing Seldis Cooper raised the concerns of the new tax regime and asked why bingo was taxed unfairly. After looking through some indicative figures, Ms Cooper was particularly interested in the bingo figures that showed the tax increase on games that were previously exempt from VAT. She commented "Although Bingo has always been taxed higher than some other forms of gaming I was not aware that the 22 percent tax rate would be a higher tax for the industry, I will be writing to the Treasury to see if this has been the case".

Ms Cooper went onto say "If this is having an adverse effect on the industry due to something that may not have been taken into consideration when deciding on the tax rate, this is called unintended consequence and in these circumstances the treasury will have to review the figures".

Ms Cooper also asked if the recession was causing any detrimental effect to the bingo, but this was largely refuted by Seldis Cooper stating that the only thing that is really causing any problems is the tax increase.

Yvette Cooper did take on board the comments and it is hoped she will back a reduction to put the bingo industry to a more favourable position before taking away double taxation. It hoped that the Government will reduce the level of Bingo Duty if the industry can prove unintended consequence.

Three amendments to the finance bill have been put forward by labour back bencher Eric Ilsley. The finance bill will be raised this week as Bingo Supermarket will give an update on the emerging news. Seldis Cooper are due to speak to another Government Minister from the Department of work and pensions Helen Goodman as she visits her local bingo club in Bishop Auckland. Helen Goodman is a close working colleague of Yvette Cooper so it is hoped that much discussion will have taken place before her visit this coming Friday.

Mr Holt left with a real positive feeling after he asked Ms Cooper to visit the bingo and she accepted the invitation and will set up a meeting after the finance bill.