Bingo Operators in a small town in Newfoundland, Canada are jumping the gun, ahead of provincial legislators, in instituting smoking bans in bingo halls. Although the provincial government announced plans to issue a general ban on smoking in bars and bingo establishments this spring, all three bingo halls in Happy Valley-Goose Bay have already taken the initiative to ban smoking.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay's initiative comes in the midst of protest from bars and clubs across the province, claiming that smoking bans will inflict detrimental effects on business.

Before banning smoking entirely, one local bingo club first set up a non-smoking area, but is was deemed ineffective. Nonetheless, the smoking ban comes at a cost. Since the ban became effective, attendance at all three bingo halls have allegedly fallen approximately 20 percent.