A lot has been written in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the web version of this classic game offer a salvation, or might it never compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an classic game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in appeal with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to be reversed with the enforcement of the anti smoking law around England and Wales.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke while marking off their 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 parlours, one of the most popular places where folks like to smoke.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Players 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 familiar game?
The answer is on the net. Players are now realizing that they can play bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent development and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on on the net is unlikely to replace the communal aspect of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.