An abundance has been stated in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the anti cigarette law in the United Kingdom. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses alive. But does the web variation of this traditional game present a salvation, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo is an age old game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game lately had witnessed a recent increase in appeal with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the smoking ban across United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be able to smoke at the same time marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common locations where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this enduring game?
The answer is online. Players realize that they can bet on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and smoke and still have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the social portion of going over to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with no option.