Can the Smoking Ban in the United Kingdom Drive Bingo Enthusiasts Online?

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A lot has been written in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge tax breaks to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the web adaptation of this classic game provide a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar opposite?

Bingo has been an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game recently had witnessed a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people deciding to go to the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the cigarette ban throughout Britain.

No more will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common locations where players like to puff on cigarettes.

The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Players have plummeted and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t cast aside this ancient game?

The answer is on the net. People realize that they can wager on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and fag and still enjoy massive jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.

Of course betting on on the net is unlikely to replace the communal portion of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the law has left a lot of bingo players with little option.