A lot has been stated in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt as a result of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the web version of this quintessential game present a salvation, or might it never compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an classic game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game of late had undergone a recent return in popularity with younger men and women opting to visit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law throughout United Kingdom.
No more will players be allowed to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public place will not be permitted to allow smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common places where people like to smoke.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Obviously they have not forgotten this classic game?
The answer is online. Players are now realizing that they can bet on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the net can never replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the rules have left a number of bingo players with no choice.