An abundance has been stated in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the anti smoking law in England. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge tax breaks to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But will the internet adaptation of this traditional game present a escape, or will it in no way compare to its land based kin?
Bingo has been an ancient game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had experienced a recent resurgence in appeal with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlours in place of the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the anti smoking law across United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public areas will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favorite areas where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the industry is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Of course they haven’t given up on this enduring game?
The answer is online. People realise that they can bet on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cigarette and still have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course wagering on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social portion of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the rules have left a number of bingo players with no option.