Much has been written in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the cigarette ban in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But will the web variation of this quintessential game provide a escape, or might it not compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo has been an classic game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had seen a recent return in popularity with younger people deciding to go to the bingo halls in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law all over England and Wales.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common places where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the business is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Of course they haven’t forgotten this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers know that they can bet on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cigarette and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on on the web is unlikely to replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with no option.