An abundance has been talked in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the smoking ban in Britain. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big aid to help keep the industry afloat. But can the online adaptation of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an enduring game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in appeal with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo halls instead of the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti smoking law across United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most popular locations where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t forgotten this established game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cig and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing online will never replace the social part of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the rules have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.