Much has been reported in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But will the internet adaptation of this classic game present a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an established game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had experienced a recent resurgence in appeal with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law across United Kingdom.
No more will enthusiasts be permitted to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favored areas where many people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. Players know that they can play bingo using their computer while enjoying a beverage and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent development and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course wagering on on the net is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left many bingo players with no choice.