Independent Bingo Operator, Roger Cooper has hit out at the Government asking if New Labour believes a woman's place is in the home. Mr Cooper who operates a number of Bingo clubs in the UK has asked "Why have we just had a tax hike on bingo duty by almost 50% whilst the bookmakers still enjoy the same 15 percent rate"

Mr Cooper's clubs are attended by 93 percent females and believes the reciprocal exists for bookmakers for males, "Is it coincidental that a female dominated market place has to pay almost 50 percent more tax than its male counterpart within the bookmakers." Bingo clubs fulfil 'an important role in the community' and this is backed up by the Department of Culture and Media who have also raised concerns over the taxation argument with the Treasury.

The Seldis Cooper Group is a member of the UK Bingo Association and Mr Cooper has asked for a review in the bingo duties and the points should now be lobbied to local MPs. He believes the treasury see the UK bingo industry as a soft target for taxation and the population of people who enjoy a game of bingo are being taken for a ride. After some research on the internet, Roger Cooper also noted that online bingo duty in the UK is to remain at 15 percent and is it coincidental that a larger percentage of males enjoy online bingo than in bingo clubs, does it also support the claim that the government appear to have a vendetta against land based bingo as the tax system is totally biased towards a male gaming market.

Mr Cooper went on to say "The Treasury are using bingo taxation to solve their own financial crisis that has been brought on by themselves and the banking sectors. We are not going to lie down and allow the government to destroy this great British bingo tradition that is enjoyed by a market that is female dominated". After the recent success by the industry to prove VAT should not be taken on bingo, the government is reacting in a disproprotionate manner and is trying to sabotage what is a highly respected industry that is enjoyed by the UK public. Mr Cooper also went on to say " This is not simply about making bigger profits, its about survival and it will be a shame to see the Government destroy an industry that is the number one pastime in the UK enjoyed by women".