A lot has been written in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt because of the smoking ban in Britain. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the internet version of this classic game provide a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo is an ancient game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game lately had seen a recent resurgence in appeal with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo halls rather than the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to change with the legislating of the cigarette ban throughout United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular locations where people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Obviously they have not cast aside this classic game?
The answer is on the internet. People know that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beverage and smoke and still enjoy monstrous jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on online will never replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the law has left a lot of bingo players with little choice.