An abundance has been talked in the press not long ago about the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in England. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the web version of this traditional game present a salvation, or will it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo has been an established game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had seen a recent comeback in appeal with younger people deciding to go to the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to change with the introduction of the cigarette ban around Britain.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite areas where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Obviously they haven’t abandoned this enduring game?
The answer is online. Players realize that they can enjoy bingo using their computer while enjoying a drink and cigarette and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on on the web is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.