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UK smoking ban could present an opportunity for Will Hill

UK gambling group William Hill plc appears to feel there could be a positive opportunity in the smoking bans imposed in Britain recently. The opportunity could lie in persuading land bingo and casino players frustrated by the ban to redirect their entertainment....and their money...to online venues.

According to the London advertising agency Initiative, the company is putting its money down that this will be the case, launching a GBP 1 million advertising campaign aimed at attracting casino and bingo players to its online websites.

Campaigns under the banners ‘SuperCasino’ and ‘Ditch the Dabber’ have been designed by Initiative to include national poster and newspaper drives.

William Hill PR exec David Hood said: “The smoking ban will hit some types of traditional gambling harder than others. Casinos and Bingo Halls especially will take a hit, as you have to physically be in the premises to play.”

He added that in comparison, players don’t have to be in the betting shop to have a bet. “Punters quickly adapted to the ban in the Scotland and Ireland, and the evidence indicates that the disruption will be minimal in comparison to other leisure industries.”