Might the Cigarette Ban in England Drive Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Net?
Friday, 14. November 2025
Much has been talked in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the cigarette ban in the UK. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive aid to assist in keeping the businesses alive. However will the net variation of this traditional game provide a salvation, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar opposite?
Bingo is an familiar game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had undergone a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo halls instead of the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the anti smoking law all over Britain.
No longer will players be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular places where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Obviously they have not deserted this established game?
The answer is on the internet. People know that they can participate in bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with little choice.
Posted in Bingo by Taryn