Much has been written in the press just a while ago about the bingo industry singing the blues because of the cigarette ban in England. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. But will the internet variation of this classic game present a lifeline, or might it in no way compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had witnessed a recent comeback in appeal with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo parlors in place of the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the cigarette ban around UK.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common locations where people like to smoke.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Players have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Obviously they have not forgotten this age old game?
The answer is on the net. Gamblers know that they can gamble on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the net will never replace the collective aspect of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with little alternative.