An abundance has been written in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the cigarette ban in the UK. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. However can the net variation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or might it in no way compare to its real life opposite?
Bingo has been an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in appeal with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo parlours instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to be reversed with the enacting of the anti smoking law around Britain.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common areas where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the business is literally struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they haven’t given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. People know that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a drink and fag and in the end, enjoy big jackpots. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the web is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left many bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.