Bingo halls could be under threat due to a drop in business caused by the smoking ban, according to research out today.

Admissions are set to drop by eight per cent over the next year as many players choose to stay at home, market analysts Mintel found.

Bingo halls are harder hit by the smoking ban than pubs, clubs and betting shops.

Contrast this with a surge in their popularity lately, with the bingo sector enjoying a 24 per cent increase between 2004 and 2005.

What's the story at your local bingo centre?