Much has been reported in the press just a while ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive aid to assist in keeping the businesses alive. However can the internet version of this quintessential game present a lifeline, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar opposite?
Bingo is an familiar game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had experienced a recent return in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo halls instead of the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the legislating of the anti smoking law across United Kingdom.
No more will enthusiasts be able to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most common places where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Surely they haven’t abandoned this familiar game?
The answer is on the net. Players realise that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cigarette and still have a chance at monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the rules have left many bingo players with little choice.