A lot has been stated in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax cuts to help keep the businesses afloat. But does the net variation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its real life kin?
Bingo has been an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game lately had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger people opting to go to the bingo halls in place of the discos on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the cigarette ban around United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favorite places where people like to smoke.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where have the players gone? Certainly they haven’t forgotten this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realise that they can play bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and smoke and in the end, have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course betting on on the net could never replace the social portion of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no option.