An abundance has been stated in the papers just a while ago about the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the smoking ban in the UK. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But can the web version of this traditional game present a escape, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo is an age old game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours instead of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti smoking law throughout United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common places where players enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not given up on this classic game?
The answer is on the internet. People realize that they can enjoy bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beer and fag and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal portion of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with no choice.