An abundance has been talked in the press recently concerning the bingo industry being hurt because of the anti cigarette law in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the industry alive. But will the web version of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based peer?
Bingo is an ancient game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had experienced a recent return in popularity with younger people opting to go to the bingo halls rather than the discos on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law all over England and Wales.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite places where players enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Players have plummeted and the business is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Obviously they haven’t abandoned this enduring game?
The answer is online. People realize that they can enjoy bingo from their computer while enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing online will never replace the communal aspect of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little option.
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