A lot has been reported in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hit because of the cigarette ban in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But can the online version of this traditional game provide a escape, or might it never compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an classic game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo parlours instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law around United Kingdom.
No more will gamblers be allowed to smoke while marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public areas will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common areas where players enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo parlors. Players have plummeted and the business is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Of course they haven’t cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. Players know that they can bet on bingo using their computer while enjoying a drink and cig and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the communal part of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a number of bingo players with little option.