An abundance has been talked in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt because of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. However will the internet variation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo is an ancient game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlours instead of the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to be reversed with the legislating of the cigarette ban around United Kingdom.
No longer will players be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular places where folks enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo halls. Players have plummeted and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Surely they have not given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realise that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beer and cigarette and still have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the net could never replace the communal aspect of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.