More young joining the bingo ranks

The owner of Mecca Bingo yesterday said it is attracting more and younger customers after reporting a surge in profits and sales in the final six months of last year.

Rank Group saw the number of customers at Mecca Bingo, which has 98 venues in the UK, increase by 7 per cent to 770,000 in the six months to December 31, while the number of punters at its Grosvenor Casino chain leapt 9 per cent.

Analysts said investment in activities for younger markets, such as the After Dark suite of games which are aimed at under-35s, is boosting Mecca’s performance and should lead to further growth.