An abundance has been talked in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt because of the cigarette ban in the UK. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax cuts to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the internet variation of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an age old game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game recently had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo parlours in place of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the smoking ban all over Britain.
Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favored locations where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Profits have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Obviously they have not forgotten this ancient game?
The answer is on the net. Players know that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the net is unlikely to replace the social part of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with no choice.