An abundance has been talked in the press recently about the bingo industry being hurt because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But will the online version of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo is an established game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had witnessed a recent resurgence in appeal with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlors in place of the bars on a Saturday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law all over UK.
No more will players be able to smoke whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular places where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Players have dropped and the business is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Of course they have not forgotten this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. Players realize that they can enjoy bingo using their computer while enjoying a beverage and smoke and still have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on online will never replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with little option.