Much has been stated in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the anti smoking law in England. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However will the net variation of this quintessential game provide a escape, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar relative?
Bingo is an established game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had undergone a recent return in popularity with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the legislating of the cigarette ban around United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular areas where players like to smoke.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo parlours. Players have plunged and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t cast aside this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. Players realize that they can enjoy bingo from their computer while enjoying a cocktail and smoke and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left many bingo players with no option.