Bingo halls are with the rope around their neck

At least 20 rooms are suffering economic difficulties and provide for cuts, the sector is not lost on the battle to lower taxes. The situation is critical in a sector that, even so, it provides 152 million Euros annually in taxes. If not, they are warning that half thousand workers can stay on the streets next year.

Last Friday, after 20 days of competition, bingo halls ended the war and agreed to the Supertoc turn. The disconnection irritated at the Catalan government, which has left 200,000 Euros by joining the boycott. Entrepreneurs bet on a measure of pressure in that caliber to achieve \"a goal of survival\": the tax break. Catalonia is the second community where bingos pay more taxes (28%) and employers ask at the level of autonomy as Madrid (22%), Valencia and Andalucia (23%). They believe that lowering them would increase the amount of the awards and thus make it more attractive to the bingo players.

It was a desperate measure by a desperate situation, he admits, to bull past, the president of the Association of Bingo in Catalonia, Javier Franch, who spoke on behalf of the three entities that bind to employers. The rooms have yielded finally to the demand of the Generalitat connecting the Supertoc as a condition sine qua non for both sides to feel again, to negotiate.

And what they discuss? Key Improvements to the future of the business, said Franch. One of them is the tax-cut faces rejecting government, but the employer does not lose hope for implementation in the coming years. The others are of a technical nature and are on track, because the Department of the Interior welcomed. The employer asks to be put in place the so-called virtual card, which allows customers to play on a touch screen, with multiple software options, says Franch. He also claimed that the chambers can install more machines multiplayer games (roulette type) that have given excellent results.

Júlia, before dinner that comes out of a bingo downtown Barcelona, does not know what it is a virtual board. Neither wants to know. I am a couple of hours with my cards and always ready. The woman, 59, represents the classic profile of bingo player. The employer admits that it can not incorporate young people. But it does update the game so that when young people become adults, is going to arise as a bingo more leisure option.

Faced with the voices that consider the bingo business and demode obsolete, the patron bet on its ability to renew itself. And that puts as an example, in recent years, has managed to scrape Other income: the parking lot, machines and restaurant service.

The number of people who decide to enter a bingo fell year after year. Same as billing, which last quarter had fallen to 12%. At least 20 rooms experiencing economic difficulties, and lost in the memory-was six years ago, in La Jonquera, the last time they opened a bingo hall. A decline of specific bingo joins the global economic crisis, which makes the customer is spending less. So far there have been sporadic layoffs, but things could get ugly next year: Without improvements, they may lose 500 or 600 jobs. Lets see if someone cares a bit.

Summary of the bingo sector - 20,000 visitors each day for the 50 bingo halls that are in Catalonia. Six have closed this year.
- 2,000 people work directly in the industry, employers warning of possible dismissal of 500 in 2009.
- The Bingen de Catalunya pay 28% tax, the second highest rate behind Baleares (29%).
- 47% of taxes received by the Generalitat of the game are deprived of bingo (152 million in 2007).
- 58% of what they collect bingos goes to prizes, 14%, to the operator, and 28% government takes it in taxes.
- Compared to 58% given by the bingo, the amusement machines give awards in 70%; casinos, 78%.
- The billing of the rooms fell by 3.9% in Catalunya last year. It is the only type of game that falls.