An abundance has been written in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the smoking ban in Britain. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the net variation of this classic game provide a lifeline, or will it never compare to its real life kin?
Bingo has been an familiar game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had witnessed a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society opting to hit the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to change with the legislating of the cigarette ban all over United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke while marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular locations where many people like to smoke.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Of course they have not cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. People are now realizing that they can participate in bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and cigarette and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course gambling on online is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left a lot of bingo players with little choice.