Could the Anti Cigarette Law in the UK Drive Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Web?
by Heath on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025
An abundance has been talked in the papers recently about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the cigarette ban in the UK. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to help keep the industry alive. However will the internet variation of this traditional game present a reprieve, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo is an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game recently had undergone a recent comeback in popularity with younger people opting 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 enforcement of the cigarette ban around United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular areas where folks enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. People realise that they can wager on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and smoke and still have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on online will never replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left many bingo players with little option.
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