Much has been stated in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax breaks to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But can the net adaptation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo has been an ancient game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game lately had experienced a recent comeback in appeal with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors rather than the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the anti cigarette law across Britain.
No more will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favorite places where players enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Certainly they haven’t deserted this classic game?
The answer is online. Gamblers are now realizing that they can participate in bingo using their computer while enjoying a drink and fag and still enjoy massive jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with little choice.