Much has been stated in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the web adaptation of this traditional game present a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo is an familiar game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to visit the bingo parlors in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti smoking law across England and Wales.
No longer will players be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favored locations where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Surely they have not given up on this familiar game?
The answer is online. People realize that they can enjoy bingo from their computer while enjoying a cocktail and smoke and still enjoy monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the web will never replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left many bingo players with little option.