Smoking Ban Blamed for Bingo Takings Fall

As a result of a smoking ban, some of the Britain?s largest bingo chains announced revenues had fallen 14% in Scotland.

?Established in 1961, Mecca Bingo was acquired by Rank Group in the early 1990s and now has around five million members and 117 sites. Mecca experienced a 6% fall in admissions, while spend per head was 9% lower in the 13 weeks since smoking was banned in public places north of the border.?

"In the early weeks of the ban in April, Mecca said it was likely players were taking smoking breaks between games rather than spending on other attractions, such as slot machines.

"A ban on smoking in public places in England and Wales is expected in the summer of 2007."