A lot has been talked in the papers just a while ago regarding the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in England. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However will the net adaptation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or might it not compare to its real life relative?
Bingo is an familiar game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people opting to hit the bingo parlours in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the anti cigarette law all over UK.
No longer will players be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public place will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favorite locations where many people like to smoke.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the business is literally struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Certainly they have not forgotten this ancient game?
The answer is online. Players realize that they can bet on bingo from their computer while enjoying a beverage and cig and still have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the web is unlikely to replace the social part of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.
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