The UK's bingo players are up in arms over the imminent smoking ban, and the smokers amongst them have said they will visit bingo clubs less often, and spend more time online.
St Minver, which operates the world's largest bingo network, has carried out a survey of 3,000 UK bingo players to find out their attitudes towards the ban, which comes into effect from 1st July.
The survey results suggest that the ban will benefit online gaming services, as of smoking bingo players reduce time spent in bingo clubs:
- 62% of bingo players are smokers - 33% of them will play less often, while 21% will stop playing in clubs altogether.
- Just 14% of smokers said that they will kick the habit so they can continue playing.
- 63% of smokers will increase the amount they spend playing online as a result of the ban.
According to St Minver, there are around 3m bingo players in the UK, with an increasing trend towards playing the game online.
Graham Charlton is Editor at Econsultancy. Follow him on Twitter or connect via Linkedin or Google+.
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9:43PM on 12th June 2007
As a regular bingo player, I was really annoyed when I wasn't allowed to smoke when I was playing,but I was not going to stop playing bingo. I tried online but I got fed up with my own compnay and I missed the atmosphere of everyone waiting for their number to come out and the shout as it did. The ban has not put me off going and the Management are great. There is more prize money than ever and great fun. No way am I going to settle for online.
10:29AM on 28th June 2007
You know its very annoying that smoking is being banned in the UK. I sympathise with Bingo players that enjoy the game and a smoke at the same time. I am starting a website on the subject of the smoking ban www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/smoking. Have a look and please send me any articles comments and the like. I will publish your comments, provided they meet the criteria on the home page.
Keith