Bolton MP David Crausby and local councilor John Byrne visited the Mecca Bingo hall in Breightmet to discuss the effects of high taxes and the upcoming smoking ban. MP Crausby said he supports the “Stop Destroying My Bingo” national campaign that aims to eliminate VAT on bingo.

“The smoking ban will have an economic effect on bingo and is one reason we should give our support on the question of double taxation - but it would need the Chancellor to do something about it in a budget,” Crausby said and added that, in the long run, the smoking ban would be seen as a good thing because more people would stop smoking.

Some Bingo halls, like the Mecca Bingo in Bristol, have installed special outside shelters for smokers so their customers can continue playing bingo after the smoking ban comes into effect on July 1. A spokesperson for Mecca said that the company is even thinking about introducing hand-held machines in the near future.

Many companies already have the experience of the smoking ban in Scotland and the effects it had on bingo halls.