An abundance has been reported in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry being hit because of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive aid to help keep the industry alive. However can the internet version of this classic game present a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo is an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had experienced a recent return in acceptance with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours instead of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti smoking law across UK.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public locations will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular locations where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Numbers have dropped and the business is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Obviously they have not deserted this age old game?
The answer is online. Players are now realizing that they can bet on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and smoke and in the end, have a chance at monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.
