Bingo at risk in Spain

Trade associations in Spain have basically said that the industry has to evolve or it will not be able to survive and risks disappearing altogether. In particular they are pressing for the introduction of electronic bingo machines.

Jose Luis Merino, the general secretary of ASEJU, one of the trade associations representing the industry said; “If the online 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.”

With the problems that Spain is experiencing at the moment, and the high unemployment levels, such a loss would be catastrophic. In Madrid there are approximately 60 large bingo clubs employing 2500 people, with another 2500 people employed in various support industries. The city collected approximately €300m in taxes from bingo in 2009. Operators have stated that they want new licences to be issued which will allow them to introduce electronic bingo, replace traditional machines with card displays and improve the prizes currently on offer.

The Spanish have lobbied authorities to adopt a model similar to that used in Italy. Here prizes have improved to being at least 70% of the income and taxes from winnings have been cut by 50%. In Madrid the community now takes 61.11% of the income from machines. Spain is fighting to bring in these changes now to avoid getting into worse financial problems. Due to worldwide concerns over their financial position, and their ability to dig themselves out of it, Spain, like Ireland, Greece and Portugal, pays more for its debts than other countries seen to be better equipped, such as Germany. Any moves which will bring more money into the economy are sure to be closely followed.

Let’s hope for all our fellow bingo players in Spain that their problems are resolved and they will still be able to enjoy their favourite game.

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