An abundance has been talked in the press just a while ago about the bingo industry being hurt because of the cigarette ban in Britain. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax cuts to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the internet variation of this traditional game offer a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar relative?
Bingo has been an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had experienced a recent comeback in appeal with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlors instead of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the smoking ban across Britain.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes while marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular places where many people like to smoke.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t deserted this age old game?
The answer is on the net. People know that they can wager on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and cigarette and still enjoy huge prizes. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the internet will never replace the social part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with little alternative.