A lot has been talked in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry being hit because of the cigarette ban in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But can the internet variation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or might it in no way compare to its land based relative?
Bingo has been an familiar game usually enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game lately had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlours rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the cigarette ban all over United Kingdom.
No longer will enthusiasts be permitted to smoke while marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public locations will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular places where people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they haven’t cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is online. People know that they can play bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the communal part of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the rules have left a good many bingo players with little option.