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by Sarah
Monday, 30 Jul 2007
While bingo clubs across the country have experienced a slight decline in player numbers and revenues as a result of the smoking ban, the industry has been helped by the recent bad weather, which has encouraged more people into the gaming venues, Gala Coral has stated.
The UK's largest bingo operator, which currently holds 170 clubs, told Reuters that revenues had fallen by around six to seven per cent, in comparison to the 15 per cent decline experienced in Scotland when the ban on smoking came into effect a year ago.
"It's very early days but it's not as bad as Scotland and quite promising," said Neil Goulden, the firm's chief executive.
In addition to the weather, the potential damage of the smoking ban on the bingo industry has been offset by the innovation of operators, with the Rank Group having introduced portable gaming machines which allows its customers to carry on playing while outside smoking.
Despite the setbacks of the smoking ban, the industry has recently been given a boost after the prime minister announced that he is considering altering the tax laws surrounding bingo following arguments that the game was in effect paying VAT twice, thereby putting bingo clubs at a disadvantage to other gambling sectors and online gaming.
"We are delighted that the p rime m inister is willing to meet, we have been saying for six years now that the tax on bingo is iniquitous," Mr Goulden stated.
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