Much has been reported in the papers just a while ago regarding the bingo industry struggling because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the internet adaptation of this classic game provide a escape, or will it in no way compare to its real life opposite?
Bingo has been an classic game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had seen a recent comeback in popularity with younger men and women deciding to go to the bingo parlours in place of the discos on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law around United Kingdom.
No more will gamblers be able to smoke at the same time marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common places where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the business is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Surely they haven’t cast aside this established game?
The answer is on the internet. People realize that they can bet on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and smoke and in the end, enjoy big prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with little option.
