Can the Cigarette Ban in the United Kingdom Force Bingo Enthusiasts Online?
An abundance has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry singing the blues because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. But does the net variation of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo has been an ancient game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had witnessed a recent increase in appeal with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlors instead of the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban around England and Wales.
No more will players be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public place will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most popular locations where players enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Surely they have not given up on this classic game?
The answer is on the internet. Players realise that they can wager on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and in the end, have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course wagering on on the web is unlikely to replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.
No comments yet.