Canadian bingo fans are to be affected by a smoking ban on Prince Edward Island

Many Canadian bingo fans are to be subject to a ban on smoking in public places as of midnight tonight.

The restrictions will be implemented on Price Edward Island (PEI) and will apply to any public building which contains people aged under 19.

This has prompted concerns among some bingo hall operators in the region, some of whom believe it could hit business, reports CBC News.

Indeed, bingo fans who want to continue lighting up when playing the numbers game could potentially decide to stay at home and play online bingo instead.

Gerald Coyle, a previous president of the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Charlottetown, commented: "They like playing bingo but they like their smoke.

"They don't show up - it's going to hurt."

He added that the average bingo player at the hall spends between $30 and $40 during each session.

However, health minister Doug Currie has insisted the legislation is a significant step towards protecting people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

The move has been welcomed by Joanne Ings of the PEI Lung Association, who told the Guardian that most of the island's population want to breathe smoke-free air.