Much has been written in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax breaks to help keep the businesses afloat. However does the web variation of this classic game offer a reprieve, or will it not compare to its land based kin?
Bingo is an established game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo parlours instead of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the smoking ban throughout UK.
Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored places where players like to smoke.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already banned in the bingo parlours. Profits have plummeted and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. Players realize that they can bet on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy massive jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on online could never replace the social portion of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the rules have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.