Last year’s bingo proceeds at the Association of Evergreen Youth in the Canadian city of Edmonton, Alberta, reached $91,000. However, the non-profit organization’s bingo profits this year have only reached slightly over $30,000.

Many hands point an accusing finger at Edmonton’s smoking ban, which took effect on July 1st of this year. Although the law has removed the nicotine clouds that floated through the city’s bingo halls, it also lowered the financial standings of civic organizations and charities that use bingo in order to raise money.

In addition, the ban has apparently helped neighboring towns profit – bingo halls in Spruce Grove and Wetaskiwin, which do not have a smoking ban in effect, seem to be smokier than ever and, have in fact reported up to 40 percent increases in profits.

Source: Bingo.com. Link

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