A lot has been stated in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to help keep the industry afloat. But will the online version of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or might it in no way compare to its land based relative?
Bingo has been an familiar game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had seen a recent comeback in appeal with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law around United Kingdom.
No more will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favorite locations where many people like to smoke.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlors. Players have plummeted and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not deserted this ancient game?
The answer is online. Gamblers realise that they can play bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and fag and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective part of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a lot of bingo players with little alternative.