Can the Cigarette Ban in England Take Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Internet?
Monday, 6. January 2025
Much has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry being hurt because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But does the online adaptation of this traditional game provide a salvation, or will it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo has been an classic game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game lately had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law all over Britain.
No more will enthusiasts be permitted to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public places will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite places where players like to smoke.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t cast aside this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers are now realizing that they can play bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and smoke and still enjoy big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the web is unlikely to replace the collective portion of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.
Posted in Bingo by Taryn