By Sarah Smithon Friday, 7 Jul 2006 Swathes of smokers are choosing online bingo after Scotland introduced a smoking ban three months ago.
Five bingo halls have been forced to close after no-smoking rules were put into place, PRWeb reports, while thousands of players have flocked to online bingo sites where they can light up in peace.
Bingobase affiliate site Bingo Scotland has enjoyed a massive 400 per cent increase in membership since the ban came into place.
"When the smoking ban started, we didn't imagine our membership would increase so rapidly," said Bingo Scotland spokesman Iain Beggs. "But as players have the freedom to smoke when they play online bingo in the comfort of their own home, it makes sense that bingo websites have become even more popular."
Traditional bingo halls have witnessed up to half their players getting up during a session to have a cigarette break, while bingo fans such as 38-year-old Jeanette Clunie believes that such halls could be a thing of the past.
"I personally wouldn't use bingo halls now you can't smoke in them and haven't been to one since the ban," she said.
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