Much has been reported in the press just a while ago regarding the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the internet version of this traditional game provide a escape, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar opposite?
Bingo has been an ancient game usually enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo halls instead of the discos on a Saturday night. This is all about to change with the legislating of the cigarette ban all over UK.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public areas will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most popular locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Players have dropped and the industry is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not deserted this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. Players know that they can enjoy bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a drink and smoke and still have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing on the internet could never replace the collective aspect of going down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.