The UK bingo industry has suffered from a number of setbacks in the last few years. After a widespread smoking ban, many bingo lovers have started turned to online bingo because they couldn’t go without smoking for extended periods of time. Online bingo has proven to be highly accessible, more convenient, and in many fore instances, a better value than bingo halls. Some well established bingo halls have been able to prevail, but a proposed licensing fee increase threatens to put them out of business. In less than five years a once flourishing industry has been transformed into a virtual relic. Loyal bingo players are sticking to their guns, but their efforts will be in vain if their are no bingo halls to visit.
Bing hall owners are trying to persuade officials not to raise licensing fees, however, the argument is that increase is necessary given the current state of the economy. Establishments associated with entertainment are often the first ones to be more heavily taxed. The only way that these bingo hall will be able to stay in business is to pass on the increased cost of doing business on to their patrons. This will inevitably cause some bingo players to throw in the towel once and for all, while a sizable portion will start to play online. Bingo hall owners are scrambling to come up with an alternative plans if these proposed licensing fee increases are approved. Even without the increase fees, more bingo halls will continue to close because online bingo is becoming more popular than ever.
