A lot has been stated in the press recently about the bingo industry being hit as a result of the cigarette ban in England. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to help keep the businesses alive. But does the internet version of this classic game offer a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo is an enduring game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game recently had witnessed a recent resurgence in appeal with younger people deciding to visit the bingo halls instead of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be destroyed with the enacting of the cigarette ban throughout United Kingdom.
No longer will gamblers be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Obviously they have not cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is online. People realize that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal portion of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left many bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.