Much has been reported in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the cigarette ban in England. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to help keep the industry alive. However can the internet version of this quintessential game offer a escape, or might it not compare to its real life relative?
Bingo is an classic game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had seen a recent increase in acceptance with younger people opting to visit the bingo halls instead of the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti smoking law all over England and Wales.
No longer will gamblers be able to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public locations will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular locations where folks enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Certainly they have not forgotten this established game?
The answer is online. People are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo using their computer while enjoying a beverage and cig and still have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social aspect of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.