A lot has been reported in the press recently regarding the bingo industry singing the blues because of the smoking ban in Britain. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big aid to assist in keeping the industry alive. But will the internet version of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an familiar game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had experienced a recent comeback in acceptance with younger men and women opting to visit the bingo parlours instead of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the smoking ban throughout England and Wales.
No more will players be permitted to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already banned in the bingo parlours. Players have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not given up on this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. People realise that they can play bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cig and in the end, have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing on the net is unlikely to replace the social part of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no choice.