Much has been written in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hit as a result of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But will the web variation of this quintessential game provide a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an established game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had seen a recent resurgence in appeal with younger people opting to go to the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti smoking law all over England and Wales.
Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common places where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Players have plummeted and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Surely they haven’t cast aside this enduring game?
The answer is on the net. Players are now realizing that they can play bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and cigarette and still enjoy big prizes. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course wagering on on the web is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the law has left a number of bingo players with little choice.