Will the Cigarette Ban in England Take Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Net?
by Brennen on August 10th, 2008
An abundance has been stated in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the cigarette ban in Britain. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry afloat. However does the internet version of this traditional game present a reprieve, or will it never compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an ancient game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had witnessed a recent return in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to hit the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the cigarette ban all over England and Wales.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public areas will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored areas where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already banned in the bingo halls. Players have plunged and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Certainly they have not forgotten this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. Players realise that they can participate in bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the rules have left many bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.
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