When the U.K. banned smoking at pubs seven years ago, pub owners have lost £200 million -- close to $500 million. The reason -- pubs used to have slot machines inside their facilities. Now, the idea is to put the slots right outside the door, so smokers can go outside, do their thing, and gamble too.
Figures from the U.K. consulting firm Marston's demonstrate that profits for pubs would increase by at least 10 percent if the new gambling plan were adopted.
Keith Smith, from the British Amusement Catering Trade Association, said that introducing gambling machines to pubs could help off-set the "decrease in pub profits as a result of outlawing smoking" at restaurants and bars.
"The vast majority of people who play fruit machines smoke, so the smoking ban is having a very serious impact," he said.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) would like to see the upper limit of a win on a gambling machine increased from £25 to £35, about $75.
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