An abundance has been reported in the press recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax cuts to help keep the businesses afloat. However does the web variation of this classic game present a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its real life peer?
Bingo has been an age old game usually enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlours in place of the discos on a weekend. This is all about to change with the introduction of the anti cigarette law all over United Kingdom.
No more will enthusiasts be permitted to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common locations where folks like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where have the players gone? Obviously they have not deserted this established game?
The answer is online. Gamblers realise that they can participate in bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a drink and cigarette and still have a chance at monstrous jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course gambling on online is unlikely to replace the social aspect of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the law has left a good many bingo enthusiasts with little choice.