Much has been stated in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry being hit as a result of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the online adaptation of this quintessential game provide a salvation, or will it never compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an familiar game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger people opting to hit the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to be reversed with the enforcement of the cigarette ban around United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common places where folks like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Players have plummeted and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Surely they have not abandoned this classic game?
The answer is on the net. Gamblers know that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and smoke and still enjoy massive prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course gambling on on the net could never replace the communal portion of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the rules have left a lot of bingo players with little option.