An abundance has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax breaks to help keep the businesses alive. However does the web version of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo is an familiar game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger people opting to hit the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to be reversed with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law all over England and Wales.
No more will players be able to smoke while marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public area will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most common locations where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plummeted and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they haven’t deserted this ancient game?
The answer is online. Gamblers are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social portion of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with no option.
February 12th, 2025
Tamara
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