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Bingo Smoking Ban

MPs agreed in February that a complete ban on smoking in public places would come into effect in 2007. Many online bingo players have been wondering how this will effect traditional offline bingo in the UK. Will more players turn to playing bingo online as a result or will smokers stub out in order to continue enjoying their favourite game once the bingo smoking ban is issued?

A new survey carried out by Littlewoods Bingo online has discovered that a huge 76 per cent of the population agrees that smoking should be stubbed out in traditional bingo halls. Unlike online bingo, which lets you play your favourite game from the comfort of your own home, traditional offline bingo has historically taken place in sometimes smoky bingo halls. But now it seems that all that is about to change!

The complete ban on smoking will come into effect in Britain in summer 2007 and the ban will include bingo halls. For many bingo players, the change will be a welcome one. Only one in four people questioned in England and Wales are not in favour of the smoking ban and many players will continue to enjoy UK bingo online and offline.

There are some differing reactions to the bingo smoking ban between regions however. Swansea bingo players are the most willing to see smoking stubbed out in bingo halls, with a huge 85 per cent backing the ban. Leeds is a slightly different story however, with bingo players in this region less keen to see smoking banned in bingo: 38% did not agree with the total ban.

For those bingo enthusiasts who disagree with the smoking ban, playing bingo online may prove a viable alternative. Online bingo allows players to participate in their favourite game from the comfort of their own home, and many players prefer this because there are fewer restrictions. The social aspect of a traditional bingo hall is not lost either; online bingo players can chat and make friends in the chat rooms and there is a strong sense of community in internet bingo as a result.

The vast majority of players however are looking forward to the smoke-free atmosphere the ban will bring and will continue to visit bingo halls in their droves, as well as playing online bingo games from home. And this choice of venue is one that bingo lovers continue to make the most of, with players enjoying both internet bingo games and the traditional bingo hall environment.

Take a look at the results of the Littlewoods Bingo Smoking Survey below, and find out what your area thinks of the upcoming ban.

Cities in Favour of the Bingo Smoking Ban:

  1. Swansea – 85%
  2. Leicester – 83%
  3. Southampton – 82%
  4. Plymouth – 81%
  5. London – 77%
  6. Bristol – 77%
  7. Birmingham - 76%
  8. Newcastle – 76%
  9. Sheffield – 75%
  10. Liverpool – 74%

As the results show, many are determined to carry on enjoying bingo because, as Steve Lerner head of Littlewoods Bingo online points out, “We believe that the nation’s addiction to bingo is stronger than their addiction to smoking”. So what are you waiting for? Satisfy your bingo cravings at Littlewoods Bingo today and play bingo online with us!