An abundance has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the net adaptation of this quintessential game present a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an established game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game lately had experienced a recent resurgence in appeal with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the smoking ban around UK.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke while dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the business is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Of course they haven’t forgotten this age old game?
The answer is online. Players realise that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beer and cigarette and still enjoy massive cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on online could never replace the social portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the law has left a good many bingo players with no alternative.