By Claire McCormack

BINGO HALLS are claiming that business is recovering after smokers left in droves because of the cigarette ban.

Smokers we spoke to outside venues in Dundee last night, however, called for the halls to provide better facilities to encourage even more players unwilling to kick the habit to fill the house.

Scotland’s bingo halls were recently said to be suffering as a result of the legislation that came into force in March. The Bingo Association warned that as many as 30 or 40 of Scotland’s 86 bingo halls could close in the long term as a result of the ban.

A spokeswoman for Mecca Bingo, which operates the clubs at Douglasfield and Nethergate, said yesterday that business was on the up following an industry slump.

“Since the smoking ban came into force in Scotland admissions are holding steady and we are in fact now seeing some growth.

“Our income has been affected—we’ve been in line with the industry decline, but we believe we might be seeing some signs of an early recovery.

“Each of our bingo clubs is part of a major group, so during this time we’ve been able to benefit from the group’s support. However, the Mecca business in Scotland is still a healthy and profitable business.

“The company has confidence that bingo will recover and as a sign of this we have already opened a new club since the ban, this being the world’s first fully electronic bingo club in Fountain Park, Edinburgh—a multi-million-pound investment.

“We also have another club opening in August in Paisley, which is another multi-million-pound investment.”

Gala Bingo, which operates the club at the Camperdown Leisure Park, Harefield Road, would not comment on the impact of the ban.

Smokers who played bingo at venues in the city last night called for better facilities. Some also felt that game play was less efficient as people are having to keep nipping outside.

Florence Cox, of Hilltown, said, “In a way it’s a good thing, but facilities for customers could be better.

“They should have something enclosed. I’d rather have a cigarette out the back, but there’s no seating.”

She went on to admit that the smoking ban has benefited her financially.

“It saves me money and you cut down. We went on a bingo trip to Glasgow and I went with 60 cigarettes and came back with 54, so in that sense it’s a good thing.”

Austin Knight, of Fintry, was enjoying a cigarette outside the bingo hall where he attends once a week. He said, “The smoking ban doesn’t bother me, but they should have designated places for smokers.”

He felt that banning smoking in all enclosed spaces in Scotland was a step too far and that special areas within bingo clubs for smokers would have been better.

Keen bingo player Theresa McKelvie, of The Glens, frequents a club every night and said smokers were being made to feel like “prisoners”.

“It’s terrible,” she said, “Prisoners get it better.

“There’s a smoking room outside, but there’s no roof and it’s like being in prison as they (staff members) walk up and down and the door is closed.”

She believed it would have been better to have designated areas with partitions for those wishing to smoke.

She does not like the fact that smokers are no longer able to sit with a drink and a cigarette and play bingo.

“I’d rather be in the bingo hall smoking my fag than standing outside smoking my fag, but I’ll stand outside rain or shine,” said Diane Robertson, of Carnoustie.

Lisbeth McVicar, of Whitfield, said she has definitely been affected by the ban as she attends the bingo hall less often as a consequence.

“It’s fine just now with the good weather but I won’t be standing out here in the freezing cold,” said Jackie Williamson, of Fintry, who was outside a bingo club enjoying a cigarette last night in the warmth.

Figures released towards the end of last month showed that 99.4% of premises have complied with the new law.

Moreover, a survey by Cancer Research UK of more than 1000 Scots found that 24% were more likely to visit their local pub because of the ban, and 45% said they would go out just as often.

A covered smoking area at a bingo hall is unlikely to comply with the law, as the roof would make it enclosed and the Scottish Parliament has banned smoking in all enclosed public places.