Much has been reported in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry struggling because of the anti cigarette law in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. However will the net variation of this traditional game provide a escape, or will it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo is an established game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game of late had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the discos on a weekend. This is all about to change with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law throughout UK.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public locations will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite places where folks like to smoke.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlours. Profits have plummeted and the business is literally struggling for its life. But where have the players gone? Certainly they haven’t cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. Players know that they can participate in bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and cig and in the end, have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the web could never replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of people the law has left many bingo players with little alternative.