Much has been written in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the anti smoking law in the United Kingdom. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to help keep the industry alive. But does the net variation of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based peer?
Bingo has been an classic game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had witnessed a recent return in appeal with younger people opting to go to the bingo parlours instead of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the anti cigarette law throughout Britain.
No more will gamblers be able to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common areas where people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t given up on this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers are now realizing that they can participate in bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and fag and still enjoy massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the social portion of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the rules have left many bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.