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Formosa slams double tax on bingo
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| Mark Formosa with Monika, Mecca's Taunton duty manager, during a bingo session. |
IT was eyes down for Mark Formosa, who hopes to stand for the Conservatives in the next General Election in Taunton, when he visited Taunton's Mecca Bingo.
Mr Formosa called the numbers during a Sunday session - and then slammed the way the popular game is double taxed'.
He said bingo clubs - unlike other forms of gambling - pay 15% gaming duty as well as 17.5% VAT.
He claims more than half the country's bingo clubs have closed over 20 years, with another 100 predicted to go this year.
Mr Formosa said: "I had an enjoyable evening, although it was quite nerve-wracking to call out the bingo numbers in front of hundreds of bingo players and try not to get any wrong.
"I was struck by how the people who were playing came from all walks of life and were there as much for a social evening out with their friends as they were to try and win prizes.
"Bingo is an important social amenity for more than three million people, especially women, the elderly, and those who live alone.
"As an industry, it also contributes substantial revenues to the economy through duties, Income Tax, National Insurance contributions, business rates, and capital investment, as well as supporting many other businesses which supply services.
"The cost to the Treasury of ending VAT on bingo revenues would be far outweighed by the cost to the economy of further club closures."
Mecca has set up a petition on the 10 Downing Street website which has attracted 2,000 signatures calling on the Prime Minister to scrap VAT on clubs.
3:00pm Sunday 11th May 2008
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