A lot has been written in the press recently regarding the bingo industry being hit as a result of the cigarette ban in Britain. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the web version of this quintessential game provide a lifeline, or might it not compare to its real life peer?
Bingo is an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law all over United Kingdom.
No longer will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public place will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common areas where folks like to smoke.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Profits have plunged and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Of course they haven’t abandoned this established game?
The answer is on the net. Players are now realizing that they can bet on bingo from their computer while enjoying a beverage and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the web could never replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the rules have left many bingo players with little alternative.