Detroit News, 6/26/06 - Nearly a month into Ontario’s smoking ban, Windsor’s bingo halls are facing their worst fears: Michigan smokers are staying home.

Business has dropped so much at some bingo parlors that owners are considering layoffs and at least one is contemplating closing its doors.

“We haven’t laid anybody off yet, but we cut our work hours in half,” said Candice Lagace, a bookkeeper at Paradise Bingo Hall. “We’re all struggling. It looks like layoffs are imminent.”

This month, Paradise Bingo Hall has lost $60,000, said Lagace, daughter of Paradise’s owner, Mike Duval.

On its best day this month, the 658-seat bingo parlor — which has been in business for 21 years — was at about 16 percent capacity with 106 players. On a busy night before the ban, the hall would have standing-room only, with customers lined up against the walls.

Miklojcik, a consultant for gaming houses nationwide, said it takes only one smoker in a car of four to suggest staying in Detroit to gamble at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity, where smoking is permitted.

Source: Detroit News. Link Expired.

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