Might the Anti Smoking Law in Britain Force Bingo Players Online?
An abundance has been stated in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry being hurt because of the cigarette ban in the UK. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to help keep the industry alive. However can the online version of this quintessential game present a lifeline, or will it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo is an familiar game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had experienced a recent increase in appeal with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlours in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout UK.
No longer will players be permitted to smoke whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t cast aside this established game?
The answer is online. Players realise that they can enjoy bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and cig and still enjoy huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course wagering on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal part of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the law has left a good many bingo players with little option.
No comments yet.