A lot has been reported in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry being hit because of the anti cigarette law in England. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to assist in keeping the industry alive. But can the internet adaptation of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or might it not compare to its real life opposite?
Bingo has been an ancient game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game recently had undergone a recent return in popularity with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo parlours in place of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the enforcement of the anti smoking law across Britain.
No longer will gamblers be permitted to smoke whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public area will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most common areas where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they have not deserted this ancient game?
The answer is online. Gamblers know that they can enjoy bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and smoke and in the end, have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the rules have left a lot of bingo players with no choice.