An abundance has been talked in the press recently regarding the bingo industry being hurt because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the internet variation of this quintessential game provide a salvation, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo has been an age old game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had witnessed a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people deciding to hit the bingo halls instead of the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law across Britain.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most common locations where people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the business is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Of course they have not deserted this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers are now realizing that they can enjoy bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a drink and fag and still have a chance at monstrous prizes. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the web will never replace the communal aspect of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the law has left many bingo players with no option.