A lot has been written in the press recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive tax breaks to help keep the businesses alive. But does the web version of this classic game offer a reprieve, or might it not compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo is an classic game usually enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had witnessed a recent comeback in appeal with younger men and women deciding to go to the bingo halls instead of the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to be reversed with the introduction of the smoking ban across UK.
No longer will players be allowed to smoke at the same time marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favored locations where people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Surely they haven’t cast aside this classic game?
The answer is on the net. People realise that they can bet on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and smoke and in the end, have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course wagering on on the internet can never replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left many bingo enthusiasts with little option.