Much has been reported in the press recently concerning the bingo industry being hit as a result of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the internet variation of this traditional game offer a lifeline, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar relative?
Bingo has been an established game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game lately had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the smoking ban across United Kingdom.
No more will players be allowed to smoke while dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public areas will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favored places where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Players have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t given up on this established game?
The answer is online. Players are now realizing that they can play bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at monstrous jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on online is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the law has left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no choice.