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 the UK. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge tax cuts to help keep the industry afloat. However does the online adaptation of this classic game offer a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an established game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent increase in appeal with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo parlours in place of the bars on a Saturday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law throughout United Kingdom.
No longer will players be permitted to smoke whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this classic game?
The answer is online. Players know that they can bet on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beer and smoke and still enjoy massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course gambling on on the net will never replace the social portion of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of men and women the rules have left many bingo players with no alternative.