Much has been talked in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the cigarette ban in Britain. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However can the online adaptation of this traditional game present a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an familiar game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had experienced a recent comeback 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 legislating of the cigarette ban all over Britain.
No longer will players be allowed to smoke whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common places where players like to smoke.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo halls. Profits have plummeted and the business is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t deserted this age old game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realize that they can gamble on bingo from their computer while enjoying a cocktail and cig 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 wagering on on the net is unlikely to replace the communal part of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with no choice.