Much has been written in the press just a while ago about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax cuts to help keep the industry afloat. But can the internet version of this traditional game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo has been an age old game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had undergone a recent return in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a weekend. All this is about to change with the legislating of the smoking ban around Britain.
No more will gamblers be able to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular areas where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t deserted this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers know that they can play bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and cigarette and still have a chance at big cash rewards. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the social part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the law has left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no choice.