Much has been written in the papers recently about the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the industry afloat. However will the net version of this traditional game provide a salvation, or might it not compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo has been an classic game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent return in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors in place of the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout England and Wales.
No more will enthusiasts be allowed to smoke whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public places will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite places where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not deserted this classic game?
The answer is online. Gamblers realise that they can participate in bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beer and fag and still enjoy big cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course gambling on on the net could never replace the social part of going over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of people the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.