PROTECTION OF BINGO CLUBS

That this House notes with concern that 61 bingo clubs have closed since the beginning of 2007 and that many more are under threat across the UK; recognises the distress and harm caused to communities and players, especially those living alone and the elderly, by the loss of this important local social amenity; regrets that bingo is the only mainstream gambling activity to be subject to double taxation; is concerned that players may turn to other, harder, online gambling outside the protection of the Gambling Act 2005; and urges the Government to apply the principle of fiscal neutrality to the taxation of bingo and to take any further steps necessary to secure the future of neighbourhood bingo for the benefit of the broader community.