Much has been stated in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the smoking ban in the UK. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the net variation of this traditional game offer a lifeline, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo is an established game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had witnessed a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people deciding to visit the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the cigarette ban throughout England and Wales.
No more will gamblers be able to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public place will not be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favored locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Numbers have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Obviously they haven’t given up on this established game?
The answer is online. Players are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on on the web is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the governing edicts have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no option.
March 31st, 2023
Tamara
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