Much has been written in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry being hit because of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax cuts to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However will the online version of this classic game present a escape, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an established game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had witnessed a recent return in popularity with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo halls instead of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti smoking law all over UK.
No longer will gamblers be allowed to puff on cigarettes whilst dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favored areas where folks enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Of course they have not abandoned this established game?
The answer is on the web. People realise that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and in the end, have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course gambling on on the net could never replace the communal aspect of going over to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the rules have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.