An abundance has been reported in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in the UK. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But will the internet adaptation of this traditional game provide a salvation, or will it not compare to its land based kin?
Bingo has been an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to be reversed with the enforcement of the smoking ban throughout United Kingdom.
No longer will enthusiasts be permitted to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common areas where people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Certainly they have not forgotten this enduring game?
The answer is online. People realize that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a drink and smoke and still have a chance at monstrous jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course gambling on on the web will never replace the collective part of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.