Much has been reported in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry singing the blues because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the industry afloat. However does the online adaptation of this classic game provide a lifeline, or will it never compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo is an familiar game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game recently had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the cigarette ban throughout England and Wales.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular places where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Profits have plunged and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they haven’t forgotten this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. People realize that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, have a chance at big cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing online is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left a good many bingo players with no alternative.