The recent Budget 2009 delivered by Chancellor Alistair Darling delivered a bit of a blow for the bingo industry as a whole. After years of campaigning against double tax imposed on traditional bingo halls, VAT was finally axed, only for the Exchequer to deliver a slap in the face by raising gross profits tax on bingo from 15pc to 22pc. Amusement machines in traditional halls will also face a tax increase by 9pc and there will be a new tax on casino card rooms. Those speaking on behalf of the online gaming industry were also quick to point out these changes had been imposed without any notice beforehand, and will only aid the decline of the UK's bingo industry.
So what does this mean for online bingo sites? Well, for the online sites, you won't be seeing much change in the way of prices. The changes will solely apply for land based halls. What this does mean though is that the offline halls in the UK will continue to decline, with more local halls near you shutting down. Coupled with the smoking ban and recent laws for other gambling machines, it seems like more and more people will be turning their backs on the traditional bingo institutions.
So the good news for the online fans is: you'll be getting a lot more choice as more companies will be opening up their online doors and set up new websites. And the bad news? You'll get a lot more choice! The amount of online sites has ballooned as more and more people flock to them. Regardless of whether you are starting out or you're an online pro, finding the best sites can be a bit of a nightmare. Especially when all of them claim to be to cream of the crop!
Quantity does not equal quality, and few online bingo halls provide the fun atmosphere you can get from going to your local hall. Whilst online bingo sites can provide great prizes and huge cash incentives, you are to some extent losing out when compared to the traditional offline experience.
The best advice? Look beyond the glitzy prizes and glamorous offers and focus on the service an online site provides. Read reviews and get advice from fans and blogs- they'll be able to help you find the perfect site just for you. Look for sites like Foxy Bingo and Wink Bingo that work hard to bring their gamers together and provide them with community spaces. These sites are great for rewarding their regular and loyal players and the chat rooms are a fantastic way of bringing a little of the buzz of a bingo hall into the comfort of your home. You may even pick up some new buddies along the way!
It's by no means a replacement and the latest budget is certainly a blow for both the online and traditional bingo industry. However, if you find a site you like and get involved, your online experience can be just as rewarding as the good old days. After all, it's not just the winning, it's also the taking part!
My aim is to provide the UK bingo market with all the latest, news, insights and sometimes personal thoughts on UK bingo including sites such as foxy bingo and wink bingo.
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