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Here at Unlucky for Some, we are actively supporting the Rank Group (Mecca Bingo) in their plight to “Save Our Bingo” by asking all of our members here to sign the petition that has been set up on 10 Downing Streets website, in the hope that they will obtain enough signatures so that the government will have to sit up and listen to what is happening in the bingo Industry now.
If you have not already signed the petition and you love playing bingo then please read on, as now really is the time you could make a difference.
The Rank Group have just issued a press release warning their investors to get ready for another rocky year ahead. Rank is expecting another "challenging" 2008, but said “it saw signs of a "modest improvement" at Mecca Bingo, even though like-for-like revenues fell 13.5% in the eight weeks to February 24”.
Rank has already closed 11 bingo clubs in a year throughout the UK and Scotland. Their profits have fallen by 31% to £43.6 million in 2007. There has been a slight hope on the horizon for bingo players when they opened a new bingo club in Kent, which increased the number of land based bingo halls they have back up to 103. The opening of this new Mecca Bingo Club has so far proved to be a big hit with bingo players, we just need to hope it remains like this.
Mecca Bingo that is part of the Rank Group are trying to fight back against lots of adversity in the past couple of years. They plan to provide outside enclosures at 50 of their clubs by the end of the year, and they will also be running "interval bingo" games for their smoking players, so once again they will be able to enjoy a game of bingo at a land based club without being told they cannot smoke.
Rank said that “The introduction of handheld electronic bingo terminals across 99 clubs allows visitors to play more bingo games, while the chain will also improve its food offering”.
Rank’s shares seem to have been hit the hardest and they have slumped by nearly half since October. The company, has been cutting back in their marketing spending and overhead costs in the hope that they will save a further £15 million this year, which will hopefully help to also prevent any more bingo hall closures. The Rank Group also operates 32 casinos and holds licensees for a further 13 more throughout the UK, but these unfortunately have also been hit by the ban as well as higher casino gaming duties that were placed on them in 2007, which has been one of the worst years for the bingo industry in History.
If you would like help support Mecca Bingo to “Help Save Our Bingo” then you will find a direct link to the petition at 10 downing site from the homepage of our site!
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