A lot has been talked in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the cigarette ban in Britain. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge aid to assist in keeping the businesses alive. But does the net variation of this traditional game present a salvation, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar opposite?
Bingo has been an classic game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger members of society opting to hit the bingo parlors instead of the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the smoking ban all over UK.
No more will gamblers be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favored areas where folks like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already illegal in the bingo halls. Players have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Of course they haven’t forgotten this age old game?
The answer is online. Players know that they can gamble on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and fag and still enjoy monstrous jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the rules have left a good many bingo players with little choice.