An abundance has been reported in the press not long ago about the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the cigarette ban in England. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big tax breaks to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the web version of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or will it not compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an classic game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had witnessed a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law across UK.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes while dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite areas where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the industry is absolutely struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers are now realizing that they can wager on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cig and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with no alternative.