Gala Coral, one of the most important bingo and gaming operators in the UK, announced in a press release that its bingo profits increased £4.4 million to £128 million in one year. This period includes six months since the smoking ban came into effect in Scotland.

The company also informed that, mainly due to the purchase of the Scottish bingo chain County, admissions at its clubs also increased. However, a spokesperson for Gala Coral explained that attendance had been partially affected by the smoking ban introduced in Scotland in March 2006 and the extended hot weather during the summer.

Net-spend per head also grew according to Gala, with discretionary products such as interval games and machines being a key area of growth. The group owns and operates 173 bingo venues, including 25 clubs in Scotland of which three are located in Edinburgh, and has about 18,500 employees.

Besides its bingo hall, Gala Coral owns 31 casinos, approximately 1,600 betting shops and an online gaming unit. The company’s bingo profits update came out during its latest annual financial filing.