A lot has been reported in the press recently about the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to help keep the industry afloat. But can the web variation of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an classic game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlours rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the cigarette ban throughout Britain.
No longer will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common areas where folks enjoy smoking.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Surely they haven’t cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. People know that they can play bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and fag and still have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the social part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with little choice.