A lot has been reported in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt because of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the internet version of this quintessential game present a salvation, or will it not compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an age old game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game recently had undergone a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people opting to go to the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout Britain.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public locations will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most popular locations where folks enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where have the players gone? Of course they have not given up on this classic game?
The answer is on the web. People realize that they can play bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on online is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the law has left many bingo players with no alternative.