An abundance has been reported in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a result of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to help keep the industry alive. But will the online variation of this classic game offer a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo has been an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent resurgence in popularity with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a Saturday night. This is all about to be reversed with the enacting of the cigarette ban around UK.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while 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 popular locations where folks like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plunged and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they have not forgotten this classic game?
The answer is online. Gamblers know that they can participate in bingo using their computer while enjoying a cocktail and fag and still enjoy massive jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the internet could never replace the collective aspect of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.