Smoking ban to hit trade

Author: Simon Dexter

The nationwide smoking ban which came into effect on July 1 is expected to hit casinos and bingo halls the most, according to a new report.

Analysts believe the gambling establishments could see a fall of up to 15 per cent in revenue due to the new legislation.

Britain is following the examples of countries such as France, Australia and Ireland in implementing the law which prohibits smoking in enclosed public spaces.

It is believed that the bingo halls will be especially hard hit due to the fact most of their customers are middle-aged woman who will choose not to go to the clubs if they are prevented from lighting up and will have to go outside the building to special smoking zones.

The clubs in Ireland have seen a downturn in trade with women playing fewer games, and crucially being unable to play the lucrative slot machines when there is a break from the bingo action.

It will be up to the clubs to try and halt any downturn by clever marketing techniques and possibly bigger prizes in an attempt to stop the players migrating – possibly to online gambling establishments.

Casinos are also expected to be hit hard having over the years cultivated a ‘social’ side to casino visiting where the gambling forms a part of the overall entertainment for an evening. In the past, cheap drinks and value food had been on offer in some establishments to encourage groups to attend – even if just of few of those who attend actually play any games.

In the US where several states have smoking bans, casinos have been able to get exemption from the prohibition for the time being but even that is now under review. It was the powerful casino lobby that argued the ban would cause a drop in income (and consequently local taxes) and that many people would instead head for the Indian-run casinos where smoking is permitted.

We should get one thing clear, however, the smoking ban in the UK has not been brought in to help the health of the nation. Neither has it been implemented to encourage non-smokers back into the pub, club or bingo halls – it was introduced because any worker in a smoking environment would have been able to take the government to court for compensation for any effects on their health.

Now, I’m all for health and safety at work but I believe a common sense solution could have been introduced whereby any worker would have to wear a gasmask while employed in such a place – similar to any worker who works with dangerous gases in an industrial setting.

I had imagined the old World War Two gasmasks, though, as someone pointed out – these contained asbestos.

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