Bingo hall takings fall in Malaga Province

BINGO halls in Malaga province report that they have lost 50 per cent of their clients due to the financial crisis.

There are currently 19 bingo halls in the province, which before 2007 made 160 million per year on bingo cards, and now make less than €76 million, according to the Junta de Andalucia.

This fall in takings has led one in three members of staff to lose their jobs.

Over the period between 2007 and 2011, Malaga residents have kept €83 million out of the traditional bingo halls, sometimes directly due to the crisis, others because of the greater presence of online gaming, which until recently had fewer restrictions.

Another reason, they say, is the smoking ban, which means that people can no longer smoke inside bingo halls, which has already led 30 to close since January last year.

Bingo mainly attracts people over 40, while younger generations prefer casinos and betting on sports, mainly via the internet.