Much has been stated in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry singing the blues because of the anti cigarette law in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax breaks to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However can the web adaptation of this traditional game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its real life relative?
Bingo has been an familiar game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had witnessed a recent return in appeal with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors instead of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the cigarette ban all over England and Wales.
No more will enthusiasts be permitted to puff on cigarettes while marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favored areas where players like to smoke.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already illegal in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the industry is absolutely struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they have not abandoned this enduring game?
The answer is on the net. People realize that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and cigarette and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the web is unlikely to replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.