Much has been stated in the papers recently about the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the anti smoking law in Britain. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. But does the web version of this classic game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its land based kin?
Bingo is an familiar game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger people opting to visit the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a Saturday night. This is all about to change with the introduction of the anti cigarette law all over Britain.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most popular areas where folks like to smoke.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Numbers have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t deserted this established game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers are now realizing that they can enjoy bingo from their computer while enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course wagering on online is unlikely to replace the social part of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no choice.