Leisure group Rank highlights impact of Scottish smoking ban

Leisure group Rank today said admissions at its Mecca Bingo sites in Scotland had slumped 10% in the first year of the country’s smoking ban.

The company added that like-for-like sales were down by 17% in the 12 months since the ban was introduced in Scotland on March 26 last year.

Rank said the amount spent by each of its Scottish customers had recovered to near pre-ban levels during the winter, but its 14 outlets were still suffering from falling admissions.

The decline contributed to an overall 1% fall in like-for-like Mecca sales in the 16 weeks to April 22, despite its bingo outlets in England and Wales increasing revenues 1% as more spending from punters offset falls in admissions.

Rank has moved to close 14 of its bingo halls most at risk from England’s ban, to be introduced in July, leaving Mecca with 103 outlets.

Rank is looking to cope with the bans through outdoor sheltered gaming areas at its sites to allow customers to smoke and play.

The firm opened the first of these shelters in Dundee in Scotland during April and currently has licences for another five across the UK.

The Dundee shelter holds around 60 players, allowing them to smoke while playing in the main game through hand-held consoles.