An abundance has been written in the papers just a while ago about the bingo industry being hit as a result of the anti cigarette law in England. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the internet variation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its real life opposite?
Bingo has been an age old game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game lately had experienced a recent comeback in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a weekend. This is all about to change with the enforcement of the smoking ban throughout Britain.
No more will players be able to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public places will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite locations where people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t forgotten this age old game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realize that they can wager on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and smoke and still have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing online is unlikely to replace the social part of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no option.
