An abundance has been stated in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry struggling because of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge aid to help keep the industry alive. However will the net adaptation of this classic game provide a reprieve, or might it never compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an age old game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game recently had witnessed a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the smoking ban around Britain.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common places where players like to smoke.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo halls. Players have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they have not cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is online. Players realise that they can gamble on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal part of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the law has left a good many bingo players with little option.