Rank Group PLC, a bingo operator in the UK, has recently hired a new managing director for their bingo club, Mecca Bingo. They have announced it Monday in London and it is effectively immediately. Perhaps Rank Group is taking actions to improve their bingo business. Taking a new managing director is something that will surely freshen up things at their bingo club. They are hoping to improve their performance and attract more bingo players with new products and a brand new managing director.
Rank Group has hired Mark Jones, a forty eight year old executive who has had his share of senior management positions for various big companies. Jones comes from the leisure industry, and is expected to bring more greatness to the world of bingo. He holds an impressive portfolio that includes CEO of Yates Group PLC, Chief Executive of Pizza Hut in the UK, and his most recent position was Premium Bars and Restaurants PLC’s Executive Chairman. He is replacing Simon Wykes whom we’ve all learned left the company back in May.
Ian Burke, the CEO of Rank Group, has been acting managing director after Simon Wykes left. He and his group have searched for who they think will best fit the position. Bingo has been facing a lot challenges for the past few months including the tax hike, smoking ban, and the current credit crunch. Thus, they have been looking for someone fresh outside the bingo industry to lead their Mecca Bingo Clubs to better and greener pastures. They are hoping to improve their products and bring innovation to their services. Mark Jones hasn’t been able to comment or release a statement yet as he has been busy with his first day at Rank Group. He will be managing 103 licensed Mecca Bingo clubs in the whole UK. They serve almost a million bingo players each year. Aside from that, Mecca Bingo also has an online version at MeccaBingo.com. Thus, Jones will surely be busy learning things at Mecca Bingo.
There are so many things happening in the world of bingo today. Perhaps the most talked about issue in the bingo industry, specifically among high street bingo clubs is the increase in bingo taxes. From 15% the UK government has increased the rate to a whopping twenty two percent. This change has certainly affected a lot of bingos, leading to closures. Riva Bingo wasn’t able to escape the consequences. The bingo operator had to downsize and give up on a couple of bingo halls.
Unfortunately, it isn’t over yet. Riva Bingo has to downsize even more. It has already sold off a total of six bingo clubs in their network. The six were sold off to Brian Mattingley. However, rumors are now flying that the company still has to give up on two more clubs. In a matter of weeks, Riva Bingo is expected to give up their Bristol and Aberdeen bingo clubs. On the other hand, the bingo operator has already sold another one in Sutton. That bingo club was bought by Tony Lynch, a previous Bingo manager.
Certainly, the tax hike has brought bad news to the bingo industry. Ever since announcing the tax decision from the UK Government, it’s almost as if we see news of bingo club closures here and there. And the worst part is that the government made this decision while we are all facing a tough economic crisis. Since the announcement, a couple of bingo companies have been struggling and trying to fight off the tax system implemented on the bingo industry. Not even the big bingo operators were spared. Because of this, there will only be four bingo clubs left at Riva Bingo, owned by Mr. Simon Hannah. This doesn’t mean however, that they are already stable. They will continue to cut costs in order to accommodate the expenses and high tax.
Ironically, ministers are asking help from Bingo clubs despite their decision to increase bingo taxes. The government ministers are appealing to the bingo industry to assist them in paying unpaid pension credits for the seniors. Of course the bingo industry always helps out the government even though it has imposed a high risk to them.
The new Minister for Pensions, Angela Eagle, who was the former Secretary to the Treasury seeks bingo clubs for help. She has recently visited a Wallsend Mecca Bingo club to help pensioners claim the pension credit that are rightfully theirs. Some seniors aren’t receiving or claiming their pension credit even though they might be entitled to it. The ministers are going to bingo clubs to spread the word about this campaign.
For those who don’t know, Angela Eagle was among those who contributed in the decision of increasing bingo taxes, specifically the gross profits tax from fifteen to a whopping twenty two percent. Ever since it was announced, she was among those who defended the decision. But now, she seeks out the help of bingo clubs that have fought and protested against the new law that she helped implement.
Nevertheless, the bingo industry continues to accommodate and welcome government requests. After all, the bingo industry only wants what’s best for the seniors, the pensioners, who are among their most loyal customers. It’s fine that the government is helping out the pensioners this way. However, it could even be better if they would reduce the bingo taxes and roll it back to 15% to help more people, not just the pensioners, save more money. Lowering taxes will allow the bingo clubs to lower their fees as well. And in result, this will help all the bingo players to be able to enjoy more at a lower cost.
