An abundance has been reported in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry struggling because of the smoking ban in the UK. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge tax breaks to help keep the businesses alive. But can the web adaptation of this traditional game provide a escape, or will it in no way compare to its land based kin?
Bingo is an age old game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had witnessed a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society opting to hit the bingo parlors instead of the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to change with the legislating of the cigarette ban across UK.
No more will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public areas will not be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored locations where people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo halls. Profits have plunged and the industry is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Obviously they haven’t abandoned this classic game?
The answer is on the web. People are now realizing that they can bet on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and cigarette and in the end, have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself almost perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course wagering on online is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with little alternative.