An abundance has been written in the press recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a result of the cigarette ban in Britain. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to help keep the businesses alive. However does the net adaptation of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its real life peer?
Bingo is an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game of late had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger people opting to hit the bingo parlors instead of the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to be reversed with the enacting of the cigarette ban throughout Britain.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will not be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favored locations where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Certainly they have not given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the net. People realise that they can enjoy bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and fag and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal aspect of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the rules have left a good many bingo players with no alternative.