Much has been written in the press recently about the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the cigarette ban in England. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax cuts to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But will the web version of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or will it never compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo has been an ancient game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game lately had undergone a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society opting to hit the bingo parlors in place of the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban around Britain.
No longer will players be able to smoke while marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common areas where many people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they have not abandoned this classic game?
The answer is on the web. Players are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and still enjoy big cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on on the web could never replace the collective aspect of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with no choice.