Smoking ban good for online bingo?

[jetset]

IT'S AN ILL WIND....

UK smoking ban could present an opportunity for Will Hill

UK gambling group William Hill plc appears to feel there could be a positive opportunity in the smoking bans imposed in Britain recently. The opportunity could lie in persuading land bingo and casino players frustrated by the ban to redirect their entertainment....and their money...to online venues.

According to the London advertising agency Initiative, the company is putting its money down that this will be the case, launching a GBP 1 million advertising campaign aimed at attracting casino and bingo players to its online websites.

Campaigns under the banners ‘SuperCasino’ and ‘Ditch the Dabber’ have been designed by Initiative to include national poster and newspaper drives.

William Hill PR exec David Hood said: “The smoking ban will hit some types of traditional gambling harder than others. Casinos and Bingo Halls especially will take a hit, as you have to physically be in the premises to play.”

He added that in comparison, players don’t have to be in the betting shop to have a bet. “Punters quickly adapted to the ban in the Scotland and Ireland, and the evidence indicates that the disruption will be minimal in comparison to other leisure industries.”

[rob3786]

I think the smoking ban will certainly improve traffic to online bingo sites yet many hall bingo players will not turn to online bingo just becuase they love the social interaction of the game. Many of these players spend alot of time at home and going to the bingo is getting out for them so the last thing they want to do is sacrifice their time out to play in. Many bingo players will also if smokers smoke before and after so they will still attend the halls.

[BingoT]

A offline Bingo Player is a Bingo Player and they will get out to play at the Bingo Halls.You will never take them away from the real life.
They will just go out side to have a smoke.
If you hop on a bus for an hour without one I would think they will do the same at a hall.

[BingoT]

Something to add to the story

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...op_robbery.html

[jenn1381]

There has been a smoking ban here in Ontario for a few years now. It has affected the gambling community, you can literally see the difference in the amount of cars, especially on weekdays. It has, however, made me a much happy gambler I don't mind if people smoke, I don't even care if they smoke around me, but it REALLY, REALLLLLLLY bothers me when some stranger sits down beside me and begins to blow smoke in my face. It's all about having respect! I respect you smoke, respect that I don't!

Little off topic rant there, lol... but I can assure you, it will affect land based halls a bit at least. The real die-hards will still go, but many others probably will turn to online gaming.

[Marcie Mac]

When that law was put into effect in Ca., the smokers (including myself) had a bit of a panic. In the local bingo halls we have smoke breaks which seem to work well - we just go outside (good thing we don't see hardly any rain here)

But it was a bit unnerving to be in a position to have to choose what vice I was REALLY in the mood for that evening

Marcie

________________________

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[Simmo!]

LOl. Not exactly hard for Will Hill to work out seeing as so many bingo halls have closed in Scotland since the ban and loads of ppl have turned to playing online.

[AudiManinBoro]

The ban will finish off many off the bingo halls. In my area two have closed theirs doors already because a vast majority of their customers have stopped going snd one was a gala. Ive been a few times in the past with my mother as she used to go regularly and almost everyone in bingo halls smoke that ive seen. Well smoking or eating they usually fall into one of those categories lol

[jolub]

The band is a good thing. I think more people will start playing now that they don't have to breathe second hand smoke. Smokers can still play if they are willing / able to stop smoking for an hour or two.

[BingoFriendsFor]

I also don't think that the smoking ban is going to stop bingo players who smoke from going to bingo halls and settle with online bingo. I'm sure they have their reasons why they prefer to play bingo at bingo halls