An abundance has been reported in the press recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the cigarette ban in the UK. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry afloat. However does the web version of this quintessential game present a escape, or will it not compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo is an established game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had experienced a recent return in popularity with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlors instead of the discos on a Saturday night. This is all about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout UK.
No more will gamblers be allowed to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favorite areas where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Players have plunged and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they have not deserted this enduring game?
The answer is on the net. Gamblers realise that they can play bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, enjoy massive prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself almost perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little option.