In an update to the story in which gaming giant Rank persuaded
the VAT and Duties Tribunal that Her Majesty's Revenue & Custom's practice
of charging VAT on interval bingo games was against European law, the Treasury
is being accused of delaying tactics over the case.
The previous ruling in favour of Rank's argument
against VAT on some versions of interval bingo was related to the games played
during intervals between sessions of a main stage land bingo game (also known
as mechanized cash bingo, or cashline).
Rank successfully argued that the charging of VAT on
some versions of interval bingo was in breach of the current European principle
of fiscal neutrality. If upheld, the ruling could translate into a possible £100
million windfall for bingo operators.
However, the Treasury delayed an appeal against the
ruling till the last moment, thus prolonging the case at a time when land bingo
operators need all the breaks they can get.
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