Scottish authorities are taking advantage of the popularity of bingo to implement an initiative to help citizens quit smoking. As part of the project, health boards will establish smoking cessation treatment centers in bingo halls, as well as in pubs. An additional £6million will be allocated to health boards to fund the initiative, making total spending for the effort £11m. The money will be distributed over the course of three years.

First Minister Jack McConnell, who spearheads the initiative, set a goal to reduce Scotland's 1.1 million smokers by 2 percent before 2010. This goal was proposed in 2004, before the initiative was developed.

The project came under fire by the managing director of Carlton Clubs, the largest supplier of independent bingo clubs in the UK, for neglecting to be consulted regarding a scheme that plans to make use of Carlton's bingo halls.