Much has been written in the press not long ago about the bingo industry struggling because of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the internet variation of this quintessential game provide a salvation, or will it never compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo has been an age old game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game lately had witnessed a recent comeback in appeal with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the anti smoking law across UK.
No longer will enthusiasts be able to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular places where people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can wager on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a drink and cigarette and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing on the web is unlikely to replace the collective part of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the rules have left a number of bingo players with no option.