Bingo: Bingo revenue drops after cig ban

Bingo revenue has been slashed by as much as 30% since gambling joints were forced to adhere to the city's smoking ban in the new year, one Calgary bingo community association says.

Lil Rose, who is in charge of financial resources at the Acadia Community Association, said attendance for the bingo games they host at the city's bingo halls has dropped significantly since Jan 1.

Last year, the community association was raking in almost $5,000 a month through bingos across the city. That figure has now dropped to about $3,400, said Rose.

Yet bingo attendance has remained steady at the West Hillhurst Community Association, said executive-director Rod Popowich.

"I think bingo players are coming to terms with the fact that there is no smoking," said Popowich. "We're ... the same as we were a year ago."

At Jackpot Junction, bingo attendance has dipped about 10%, said manager Chris Sheridan.