Much has been written in the press recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in the UK. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But will the web version of this quintessential game provide a escape, or might it never compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo is an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game lately had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the legislating of the anti smoking law all over England and Wales.
No more will players be permitted to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public places will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most popular locations where folks like to smoke.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not forgotten this age old game?
The answer is on the web. People know that they can wager on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a drink and smoke and still enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing online will never replace the communal part of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left a lot of bingo players with little option.