An abundance has been written in the press just a while ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti smoking law in the UK. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to help keep the businesses alive. However can the net version of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an ancient game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to go to the bingo halls in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law throughout UK.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public locations will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most popular places where many people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plunged and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Of course they have not forgotten this age old game?
The answer is on the web. People are now realizing that they can wager on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing on the web is unlikely to replace the social portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left many bingo players with no option.