Much has been talked in the press recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But does the web version of this traditional game offer a escape, or might it in no way compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo has been an age old game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had witnessed a recent comeback in appeal with younger people opting to visit the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the anti smoking law around United Kingdom.
No longer will enthusiasts be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public areas will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common areas where folks enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Surely they have not abandoned this age old game?
The answer is online. Gamblers realize that they can gamble on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and cigarette and in the end, enjoy big cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course wagering on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal part of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left many bingo players with no choice.