Much has been written in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But can the internet version of this classic game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game of late had witnessed a recent increase in popularity with younger men and women deciding to hit the bingo parlors instead of the discos on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the cigarette ban all over Britain.
No longer will enthusiasts be permitted to smoke while marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common areas where people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Surely they haven’t forgotten this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. People know that they can play bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and fag and still have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself almost perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course gambling on online can never replace the social portion of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the rules have left a good many bingo players with little choice.