An abundance has been reported in the press not long ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to help keep the businesses afloat. However can the online adaptation of this traditional game present a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its land based relative?
Bingo has been an age old game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had witnessed a recent return in popularity with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law across UK.
No longer will gamblers be able to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public place will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular areas where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not forgotten this established game?
The answer is on the web. People know that they can wager on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cig and still have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself almost perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the internet will never replace the social portion of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no option.