Eric Joyce, MP for Falkirk West, today launched a campaign to encourage all of his bingo-playing constituents to have their say on Government proposals to change the nature of bingo tax.

Currently, bingo tax is levied on the player with the £100 million paid to the Government every year in bingo tax coming from bingo players through their playing stakes. The Chancellor announced in the last budget that he would undertake a consultation on abolishing the tax on bingo and replacing it with a tax on bingo company gross profits, allowing savings and higher prize pots to be passed on to bingo players.

Speaking today, Eric Joyce MP said

‘Bingo is more than just a popular game, it can also play a vital role in bringing communities together. I know that some of my constituents enjoy an afternoon or a night at the bingo occasionally and I'm sure they would rather be able to play more for their pound than pay tax with a part of it. The Government's proposals would make that a reality and I'm keen that bingo players in my constituency have a chance to voice their opinion on this matter.'