Much has been reported in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt because of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive tax breaks to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But will the net variation of this traditional game provide a escape, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar relative?
Bingo has been an ancient game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game lately had undergone a recent return in appeal with younger men and women deciding to hit the bingo parlours in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti smoking law around UK.
No more will enthusiasts be allowed to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular locations where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Surely they have not forgotten this enduring game?
The answer is on the net. Gamblers realise that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and fag and still have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course playing on the web can never replace the collective part of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the rules have left a lot of bingo players with little alternative.