By Penny Walker on Thursday, 15 Feb 2007 In preparation for the smoking ban to be introduced in England and Wales later this year, the Rank Group has announced that it intends to close a number of its Mecca Bingo, halls.
The firm, which also has an online bingo site, stated that among the nine closures will be clubs in Hull, Liverpool and Reading - although the company stated that it will remain the UK's second largest bingo operator.
Rank stated that the closures are not expected to have a "material effect" on its profits in 2007, claiming that the decision was in keeping with its efforts to improve its existing portfolio of clubs ahead of the ban.
Steven Baldwin of the Bingo Association told the Independent: "This is not the death knell of the bingo industry, but we will see more of the same unless the government takes some steps to address the difficulties affecting it."
In related news, the Bingo Association reports that a number of bingo players from Premier Bingo presented a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for taxes levied on bingo operators to be cut.
|
Bingo
