A lot has been stated in the press not long ago about the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. However can the net adaptation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it not compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo is an ancient game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had seen a recent return in acceptance with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlors rather than the discos 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.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public locations will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite areas where people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t abandoned this classic game?
The answer is on the internet. People know that they can enjoy bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cigarette and still have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on online is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the rules have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.
