Much has been reported in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax breaks to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the net version of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo is an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game lately had undergone a recent increase in appeal with younger people deciding to go to the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law throughout Britain.
No more will enthusiasts be permitted to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common locations where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Profits have plummeted and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t deserted this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realize that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beer and fag and still have a chance at monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal aspect of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the rules have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no option.