Much has been stated in the press just a while ago regarding the bingo industry being hit as a result of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive aid to help keep the businesses alive. But will the online adaptation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo has been an classic game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game of late had undergone a recent resurgence in popularity with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the smoking ban all over Britain.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public places will not be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common places where many people like to smoke.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Players have plunged and the business is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Obviously they haven’t given up on this ancient game?
The answer is online. Players are now realizing that they can enjoy bingo from their computer while enjoying a drink and fag and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the web is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with little choice.