Much has been written in the press recently concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a result of the cigarette ban in the UK. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. But can the online version of this quintessential game present a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo is an enduring game usually played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game of late had seen a recent increase in acceptance with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the cigarette ban throughout England and Wales.
No more will gamblers be allowed to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public areas will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite areas where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlors. Numbers have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is on the net. People realize that they can play bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a cocktail and smoke and still enjoy big cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the web is unlikely to replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with no choice.