An abundance has been stated in the press recently about the bingo industry being hit as a result of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However can the online version of this classic game provide a lifeline, or might it never compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger people opting to hit the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the introduction of the smoking ban all over England and Wales.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular locations where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Players have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Of course they haven’t given up on this established game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realize that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and fag and still enjoy massive cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing on the internet can never replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little option.