Much has been stated in the papers just a while ago regarding the bingo industry struggling because of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But does the web version of this classic game offer a reprieve, or will it not compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo is an classic game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo parlors instead of the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the smoking ban across United Kingdom.
No more will enthusiasts be allowed to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite areas where players enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t given up on this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. Players know that they can enjoy bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a drink and smoke and still enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the net is unlikely to replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little option.