Bingo halls seek slot machine boost

Bingo halls across the Midlands are planning to introduce high-value gambling machines to boost business.

Venues throughout the region have struggled with dwindling visitor numbers since the introduction of the smoking ban last year. But now a new trend has emerged to create mini-amusement arcades within the halls.

The are known as Adult Gaming Centres under new gambling laws.

Mecca Bingo Hall in Wednesbury is one of the first to apply for an adult gaming centre licence, but more are expected to follow suit.

The application involves modifying the licensed bingo area and creating a separate area in the lobby of the Dudley Street venue, where up to four high-value slot machines can be installed, with possible cash payouts of around £500.

Under licensing regulations the area would have to be run and monitored separately from the main bingo hall.

Similar applications are being prepared for Mecca halls in Oldbury and Brierley Hill, while Shipleys in Kidderminster is also looking at introducing more slot machines.

The Gambling Commission, which regulates bingo halls and other gambling venues, has expressed concerns over the growing number of applications to 'split' premises to allow for extra slot machines and is now putting together a consultation paper to be published in September.

Mecca spokeswoman Amy Collier said the applications for new gaming areas would not involve reducing the bingo space, but would provide an additional facility in a public area of the building.

Jez Marron, operations manager of Mecca Bingo in Brierley Hill, said they were planning around eight more gaming machines, but would not reduce bingo facilities.

"We have capacity for 1,300 in the bingo area but we now get only about 550 players," he said.

"Figures are down on last year and a lot of it is down to the smoking ban."

Les Palmer, deputy manager at Shipleys in Kidderminster, said "The smoking ban has hit us hard."