Much has been talked in the press just a while ago regarding the bingo industry being hurt as a result of the cigarette ban in Britain. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. But will the net version of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or will it never compare to its real life kin?
Bingo has been an established game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game lately had undergone a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the anti smoking law throughout UK.
No longer will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular areas where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Players have plunged and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they have not deserted this age old game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realize that they can enjoy bingo from their computer while enjoying a beer and smoke and still have a chance at monstrous prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on online could never replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the law has left a number of bingo players with no choice.
This entry was posted on November 4, 2026, 8:25 pm and is filed under Bingo. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.