Much has been reported in the press recently concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the anti cigarette law in the United Kingdom. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax cuts to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the internet variation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or might it not compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo has been an established game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had witnessed a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlors rather than the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law all over England and Wales.
Players will no longer be able to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favorite locations where folks enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Profits have plummeted and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Of course they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. People realize that they can bet on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, enjoy big prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course betting on on the net is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the law has left many bingo players with little option.