An abundance has been talked in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But will the net adaptation of this classic game provide a lifeline, or will it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo has been an age old game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in appeal with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo parlors instead of the discos on a weekend. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout United Kingdom.
No longer will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite areas where people like to smoke.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already banned in the bingo halls. Players have plummeted and the business is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they haven’t deserted this age old game?
The answer is on the web. People are now realizing that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a drink and smoke and in the end, have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the net could never replace the communal portion of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the rules have left many bingo players with little alternative.