Since the smoking ban was introduced to all public places last year in the UK, bingo halls have attempted to boost profits by using other marketing strategies. Some bingo companies such as ‘Mecca’ have began applying for licenses to create a separate areas, in their hall, to host high-value slot machines. These areas are known as Adult Gaming Centre’s.

Operations manger of Mecca Bingo’s, Jez Marron, said, “We have capacity for 1,300 in the bingo area but we now get only about 550 players,” “Figures are down on last year and a lot of it is down to the smoking ban.”

The new machines hope to attract more players and boost business revenue, by providing pay outs as much as £500 and a wide range of themed games for players to enjoy. With the growth of online casino and bingo sites many players have stopped attending bingo halls altogether, as they are now able to play in the comfort of their own home.

Players used to visit a Bingo hall to just play bingo, yet the new gaming areas will add another dimension to bingo businesses. This move aims to draw people back to the classic casino and bingo hall atmosphere by introducing more gaming options for players and improving the all round experience for visitors.

What are your thoughts on these gaming centers? As a online casino player I would welcome the introduction of these new machines as I would love to play bingo and slots in a real bingo hall! Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below and make sure you visit us again soon!