Much has been stated in the press recently concerning the bingo industry being hurt because of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However will the internet variation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it never compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo is an ancient game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game recently had experienced a recent return in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the smoking ban around UK.
No more will gamblers be permitted to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public areas will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favored locations where people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Obviously they haven’t abandoned this classic game?
The answer is on the net. People realize that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beverage and smoke and still have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the social aspect of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the law has left many bingo players with no alternative.