Might the Anti Smoking Law in Britain Drive Bingo Players Online?


An abundance has been talked in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive aid to assist in keeping the industry alive. But does the net variation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or will it not compare to its land based peer?

Bingo is an ancient game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger men and women deciding to go to the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law around Britain.

No longer will enthusiasts be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public places will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular places where players like to smoke.

The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plummeted and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t given up on this age old game?

The answer is on the net. Gamblers realize that they can gamble on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cigarette and still have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.

Of course gambling on on the net is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.

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