Ian Burke, chief executive of European Gaming business Rank, has called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to scrap proposed bingo tax hikes.

Following the government’s decision to raise tax duty on bingo from 15 to 22 per cent in April this year, Mr Burke has urged politicians to justify the move.

"What I find most staggering is that bingo players are typically in Labour heartlands," he told the Sun newspaper.

"Yet we have had more support from Conservatives, the SNP and the Lib Dems than anyone in government."

According to figures, over 120 bingo halls have already been forced to close in the past 12 months, costing thousands of jobs and disappointing bingo players nationwide.

In response, bingo operators, both online and on land, continue to rally together in a bid to challenge the government’s seven per cent tax increase.