Much has been talked in the papers just a while ago about the bingo industry being hurt because of the cigarette ban in Britain. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But will the internet version of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its real life peer?
Bingo is an classic game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to go to the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the smoking ban across Britain.
No longer will players be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public areas will not be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common areas where folks like to smoke.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Numbers have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t cast aside this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. People are now realizing that they can participate in bingo using their computer while enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and still enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the web will never replace the social portion of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no option.