Much has been reported in the press just a while ago regarding the bingo industry being hit as a result of the anti cigarette law in the UK. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge aid to assist in keeping the industry alive. But can the net version of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo has been an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had undergone a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout UK.
No longer will gamblers be allowed to smoke at the same time marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular places where players like to smoke.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Numbers have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Obviously they have not abandoned this age old game?
The answer is online. Gamblers realise that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and smoke and in the end, enjoy huge cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the web is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.