A lot has been written in the press just a while ago regarding the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the net adaptation of this classic game offer a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo is an ancient game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game lately had undergone a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to visit the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the anti smoking law all over United Kingdom.
No more will players be able to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular locations where folks like to smoke.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Surely they have not forgotten this familiar game?
The answer is online. Gamblers are now realizing that they can enjoy bingo from their computer while enjoying a beverage and cigarette and in the end, enjoy big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the web is unlikely to replace the collective part of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the governing edicts have left many bingo players with little choice.