The introduction of electronic bingo machines to Madrid's substantial bingo clubs market is essential or the industry in the Spanish capital will close, warns Jose Luis Merino, general secretary of ASEJU, one of the trade associations representing the industry.
"If the bingo sector in the Community of Madrid is not given the ability to introduce new areas of business to innovate and expand the range of entertainment offered, it will close," he said.
The bingo industry in Madrid covers nearly 60 big clubs and employs 2,500 people in the city plus another 2,500 from support industries. Last year the city collected €300m in taxes from bingo. Operators are waiting for licences to introduce electronic bingo, replacing the traditional machines with card displays - and the right to improve prizes.
The industry has been calling for the authorities to adopt a model for the business similar to that in Italy, where taxes from winnings have been reduced by 50 per cent and the prizes improved to a minimum of 70 per cent of the income. In Madrid the community takes 61.11per cent of the income from machines.
