An abundance has been stated in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry struggling because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the web adaptation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar relative?
Bingo is an enduring game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent resurgence in appeal with younger members of society opting to hit the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban across United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favorite places where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Surely they haven’t given up on this established game?
The answer is on the web. People know that they can play bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and fag and still have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent development and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course wagering on online is unlikely to replace the communal aspect of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the law has left a lot of bingo players with little choice.
