An abundance has been reported in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry being hit as a result of the anti smoking law in the UK. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the net adaptation of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based kin?
Bingo is an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had experienced a recent increase in acceptance with younger people opting to go to the bingo parlours in place of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the smoking ban across England and Wales.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular areas where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Obviously they have not abandoned this age old game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realise that they can participate in bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and still have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course wagering on on the web can never replace the social part of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with little option.