An abundance has been written in the papers recently about the bingo industry being hit as a result of the anti smoking law in England. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the net version of this classic game present a salvation, or will it never compare to its real life opposite?
Bingo is an age old game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game lately had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo parlors rather than the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law throughout UK.
No more will players be able to smoke while marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common areas where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they have not given up on this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. People know that they can play bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and fag and in the end, have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course betting on on the net could never replace the social part of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the law has left a lot of bingo players with no alternative.