Might the Smoking Ban in the United Kingdom Force Bingo Players Online?
Tuesday, 26. July 2022
A lot has been reported in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But will the internet version of this quintessential game provide a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based kin?
Bingo has been an age old game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game lately had experienced a recent increase in appeal with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo parlours instead of the discos on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the anti cigarette law around United Kingdom.
No longer will gamblers be allowed to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common places where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not forgotten this enduring game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can participate in bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and cigarette and still enjoy monstrous jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the web is unlikely to replace the social portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left a number of bingo players with little choice.
Posted in Bingo by Taryn