A lot has been reported in the press recently concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti smoking law in the UK. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax breaks to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the web variation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or will it never compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo is an age old game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had witnessed a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo halls in place of the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the cigarette ban throughout Britain.
No more will players be allowed to smoke whilst marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public area will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite places where players like to smoke.
The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Of course they have not deserted this classic game?
The answer is on the net. Players are now realizing that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a drink and cigarette and still have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the net could never replace the social part of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with no option.