Bingo Halls Go Up in Smoke with the Implementation of Smoking Bans

The effects and impact of the 1 July smoking ban in the UK and elsewhere in other countries means traditional bingo halls are experiencing difficult times.

London, England (PRWEB) July 31, 2007 -- The July 1st smoking ban, is being received in England and other parts of the world with both acceptance and disappointment. Since its initiation, smokers are now not permitted to smoke in bars or restaurants, to non-smokers, a public haven has been created, but to those who enjoy a couple of puffs or perhaps a couple of packs a day, the news and the new regulations are not being well received.

The news isn't that drastic, however, because in places in the far parts of the world like the Himalayas and Bhutan, smoking is completely banned meaning smokers can't get their fix anywhere. The ban in the UK is limited to pubs and clubs and other public venues where people who choose not to smoke do not have to be subject to cigarettes while they are having a beer or enjoying a meal.

The ban covers the whole of the United Kingdom and prohibits lighting up in any indoor or enclosed space including the traditional bingo halls (http://www.bingoplayeronline.com), but don't give up hope smokers, these spaces are not relegated to your own home or prisons or some other public institutions such as hotels. The ban simply eliminates the possibility of exposing smoke to persons who have chosen to enter a public space and smoke in the presence of people who have made a conscious decision not to smoke and have the desire to socialise and relax in a smoke free environment. But what is this doing to bingo (http://www.bingoplayeronline.com)? This has definitely had an affect on regular smokers but seems to the pleasure of non smokers who are delighted, the ban is having an increasingly negative effect on the world of bingo.

The smoking ban is proving to deter new bingo players and leading to a decline in bingo (http://www.squidoo.com/playonlinebingogames/) players flooding bingo halls, actually harming the amount that are drawn to play bingo. The St. Minver bingo network is part of the White Chip gaming industry and has established itself as the largest operator of European gaming solutions. According to research done by the bingo network the ban is having a surprisingly extreme affect on the receipt of bingo and the amount of players participating in the bingo craze.

According to statistics from Leigh Nissim the managing director of the St. Minver network, one in three less bingo players are going to be present at halls and a staggering 63 percent are playing online bingo (http://bingoplayeronline.com/category/bingo_site_promotions/) and avoiding being in physical spaces where they cannot play bingo and smoke accordingly. Although the smoke free bingo halls will be of interest to some, the general affect of the ban is one that is thoroughly discouraging many players from leaving their homes, because of the removal of this small luxury. According to Nissim, it seems to him, that "land based bingo clubs are most likely to suffer in the wake of the smoking ban. Not only do players disagree with the ban, but they are less likely to visit clubs as a result."

Openly admitting the ban has been good for a small percentage, the general consensus is that the ban has been more detrimental than positive. On Wednesday the Prime Minister of England agreed to discuss tax issues with those concerned in the industry to try and ease the financial difficulties which will be experienced by traditional bingo halls.

If you are hoping to evade this ban by picking certain indoor places that may seem out of the ordinary like football stadiums and railway stations, don't bother -- Smoking is not permitted at these locations either and not following the ban isn't as easy as you think, light up in these prohibited places and there are financial penalties up to 250 pounds. July 1st has come and gone, causing happiness for some and grief for others, but most importantly calling attention to to the fact that the social scene of England and other parts of the world is now reformed.

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