Much has been stated in the papers just a while ago regarding the bingo industry struggling because of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However will the net variation of this quintessential game provide a escape, or might it in no way compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an familiar game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game recently had seen a recent resurgence in appeal with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlours in place of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the smoking ban across England and Wales.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke while marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public locations will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular locations where people like to smoke.
The results of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo halls. Profits have plummeted and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they haven’t cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the web. People realize that they can bet on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a drink and cigarette and still have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the internet will never replace the collective part of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the law has left a number of bingo players with no choice.