Much has been stated in the papers just a while ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However will the online version of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or will it not compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an ancient game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had undergone a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors instead of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the enforcement of the cigarette ban throughout UK.
Players will no longer be able to smoke at the same time marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common locations where players like to smoke.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Obviously they haven’t given up on this familiar game?
The answer is online. People are now realizing that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cig and still have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course betting on on the web can never replace the social aspect of going over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a good many bingo players with no choice.