Casino and bingo operator the Rank Group has expressed its dismay at the UK government's decision to increase bingo duty and poker taxation.
In the annual Budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling announced that although VAT on playing bingo and other forms of gaming would be scrapped, bingo duty is to increase from 15 per cent to 22 per cent. Poker, meanwhile, is to be subjected to the same duty system as other casino games.
“This change has been imposed without prior indication or consultation,” Rank said in a statement. “In Rank’s recent meetings with HM Treasury there has been no discussion of increases to taxation for bingo or poker.
The company anticipates that the changes to taxation will result in approximately £6m of unbudgeted costs during the current financial year.
