Much has been written in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the smoking ban in the UK. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge tax breaks to help keep the businesses alive. However can the online version of this classic game present a reprieve, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo has been an enduring game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had witnessed a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the discos on a weekend. All this is about to change with the legislating of the cigarette ban around UK.
Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public area will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular locations where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Certainly they haven’t forgotten this familiar game?
The answer is on the net. Gamblers realise that they can participate in bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and cig and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social portion of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with little option.
