Much has been written in the papers recently about the bingo industry struggling as a result of the anti smoking law in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the net adaptation of this traditional game provide a escape, or might it never compare to its real life opposite?
Bingo is an enduring game usually enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to go to the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to change with the enforcement of the smoking ban all over England and Wales.
No longer will gamblers be permitted to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public places will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most popular areas where people like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they haven’t abandoned this established game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realize that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a drink and smoke and still have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent development and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the internet could never replace the collective part of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the law has left a good many bingo players with no choice.