An abundance has been stated in the papers recently about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in the UK. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax cuts to help keep the businesses afloat. But will the internet version of this classic game offer a salvation, or might it never compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an established game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game of late had witnessed a recent resurgence in popularity with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to change with the enacting of the cigarette ban throughout United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favorite areas where players like to smoke.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the business is literally struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Of course they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. People are now realizing that they can participate in bingo using their computer while enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on online could never replace the communal portion of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a lot of bingo players with little choice.