Will the Smoking Ban in the UK Force Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Web?


Much has been talked in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the online version of this traditional game present a escape, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar peer?

Bingo is an age old game usually played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had witnessed a recent comeback in popularity with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo parlours in place of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the smoking ban all over United Kingdom.

Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes while dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored areas where many people like to smoke.

The results of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t cast aside this age old game?

The answer is on the net. Players realise that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and still enjoy massive prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.

Of course betting on online could never replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with no choice.

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