Much has been stated in the papers recently about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the cigarette ban in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However can the online variation of this classic game present a lifeline, or might it in no way compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an age old game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had undergone a recent resurgence in popularity with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo parlors instead of the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the legislating of the anti smoking law across UK.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes while dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public places will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common locations where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Players have plummeted and the industry is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t deserted this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. Players realise that they can enjoy bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on on the net is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a lot of bingo players with no alternative.