Much has been talked in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry being hit because of the smoking ban in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the net adaptation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo is an classic game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had experienced a recent return in appeal with younger people opting to visit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the cigarette ban throughout UK.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public locations will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favored locations where players enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they have not deserted this established game?
The answer is on the internet. Players realize that they can participate in bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, enjoy big cash rewards. This is a recent development and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing online can never replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.