The ailing bingo industry has been handed a lifeline by the government after restrictions limiting the number of slot machines a bingo game play facility can hold was lifted.
In the last four years over 100 bingo clubs have been forced to close, many of which since the introduction of the smoking ban.
The news will come as a welcome boost to the 600 remaining clubs in the UK who have had to battle the effects of the smoking ban and double taxation placed on the industry in the last year.
However, industry bosses are still not content with the decision made by sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe, who stated in March that he would look into ways to help the industry, believing the problem could have been resolved much quicker.
Paul Talboys, chief executive of the Bingo Association, told the Telegraph: "We believe today's announcement will go some way to addressing the adverse position bingo operates under. Our hope is that this can be implemented as soon as practicably possible, as the future of many clubs depends on it."
In September last year, the number of £500 bingo jackpot slot machines that a bingo hall was allowed to hold was reduced from eight to four.
