An abundance has been written in the press just a while ago about the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry afloat. However will the online version of this classic game offer a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar opposite?
Bingo is an classic game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger members of society opting to hit the bingo parlours instead of the bars on a Saturday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the enacting of the smoking ban across England and Wales.
No more will enthusiasts be allowed to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favored places where folks like to smoke.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the industry is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Of course they have not given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. People know that they can participate in bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and cigarette and still enjoy big jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the net will never replace the social part of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little option.