A lot has been talked in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the cigarette ban in Britain. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But can the online version of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or might it never compare to its real life kin?
Bingo has been an established game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game lately had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the legislating of the cigarette ban around UK.
Players will no longer be able to smoke at the same time marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite places where folks like to smoke.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they have not forgotten this ancient game?
The answer is online. People realise that they can participate in bingo using their computer while enjoying a drink and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on on the internet will never replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the rules have left a lot of bingo players with no choice.
