Much has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry being hurt as a result of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive aid to assist in keeping the businesses alive. However does the internet adaptation of this traditional game provide a salvation, or will it not compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo has been an enduring game usually played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had witnessed a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to change with the enacting of the anti cigarette law throughout UK.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes while marking numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most common locations where people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t cast aside this familiar game?
The answer is online. People are now realizing that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent development and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.
