UK Government Promises to Review Smoking Ban

Posted on July 7th, 2010

It’s no secret that the draconian smoking ban in the UK all but crippled the land based bingo industry. A recent report shows that the damage to businesses may be worse than originally thought. A recent report estimates that the smoking ban is costing the UK economy about £6 billion pounds a year. (About $9 billion USD) Over 130 land based bingo clubs have closed forever throughout the UK. The smoking ban forbids smoking in any enclosed area and some bingo clubs tried to build outdoor facilities to accommodate bingo players who smoke. A survey taken at the time the ban was passed showed that about 63% of all bingo players smoke so it is easy to see that the damage to the brick and mortar bingo industry is massive.  Even worse is the effect the ban has had on pubs which have suffered greatly since the ban was passed. It has been reported that more than 5365 pubs have closed as a result of the smoking ban and more than 24,000 jobs have been lost.

When the ban was passed Members of Parliament said that reviews would take place every three years to gauge the effect of the ban on businesses. The Health Secretary at the time, Patricia Hewitt, told MP’s that, “We will monitor the impact from day one, and we will have a full review at the end of three years.” 20% of all bingo halls in the UK have closed as a direct result of the ban. Excessive taxation of bingo halls put the final nail in the coffin lid for many struggling High Street bingo clubs. As a result of the smoking ban internet bingo websites have seen a massive increase in traffic. In fact in 2009 the internet bingo industry reported an amazing 80% increase in the number of online bingo players.

Online bingo sites were prepared for this massive influx of new online players. Land based bingo giants Mecca and Gala went online to take advantage of the increase in players and to make up for lagging profits at their land based operations. Online bingo providers have gone to great lengths to make online bingo attractive to new players. Huge sign up and deposit bonuses are the norm and the jackpots offered by internet bingo sites are much larger than those offered by their land based counterparts. Chat rooms have been very popular with online players and most online players appreciate the convenience of playing their favorite game while enjoying all the comforts of home. While land based bingo halls are struggling the online bingo industry is experiencing a boom and players are loving it!