Might the Anti Smoking Law in England Drive Bingo Players On to the Net?
Monday, 18. January 2021
An abundance has been talked in the papers recently about the bingo industry struggling as a result of the anti smoking law in Britain. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the online version of this classic game offer a reprieve, or might it not compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an classic game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had undergone a recent comeback in acceptance with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to be reversed with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout England and Wales.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common locations where players like to smoke.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they haven’t deserted this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers are now realizing that they can participate in bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a cocktail and fag and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent development and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the web can never replace the communal aspect of going over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the rules have left many bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.
Posted in Bingo by Taryn