An abundance has been stated in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry being hit as a result of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. However will the online adaptation of this classic game provide a escape, or might it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an age old game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had undergone a recent resurgence in appeal with younger men and women opting to visit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a weekend. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the cigarette ban across United Kingdom.
No longer will enthusiasts be allowed to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular areas where many people like to smoke.
The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they have not cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. People realize that they can enjoy bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and fag and still enjoy huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on on the web can never replace the social portion of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with no choice.