Much has been reported in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry being hurt because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However will the web variation of this quintessential game provide a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo is an enduring game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game recently had witnessed a recent return in popularity with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo parlours instead of the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the enacting of the cigarette ban around England and Wales.
No longer will enthusiasts be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favorite areas where folks enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already banned in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Obviously they haven’t cast aside this established game?
The answer is on the net. Gamblers realise that they can play bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and smoke and still have a chance at monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course wagering on on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with little option.