An abundance has been written in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the internet variation of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo has been an familiar game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game lately had seen a recent return in appeal with younger men and women opting to visit the bingo parlours instead of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban all over UK.
No longer will gamblers be able to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favorite locations where people like to smoke.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Profits have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not given up on this age old game?
The answer is on the web. Players realize that they can gamble on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and fag and in the end, have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the net can never replace the social part of going over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left a good many bingo players with little alternative.