A lot has been written in the press recently regarding the bingo industry singing the blues because of the smoking ban in Britain. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. However will the online variation of this traditional game present a salvation, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo is an established game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game recently had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people opting to hit the bingo parlours in place of the discos on a weekend. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the anti smoking law around United Kingdom.
No longer will players be allowed to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public area will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular locations where folks enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already banned in the bingo parlours. Players have plummeted and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Certainly they haven’t given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. People realize that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and fag and still have a chance at big cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on on the internet will never replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.