Much has been written in the press recently regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the online adaptation of this classic game offer a salvation, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo has been an ancient game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the cigarette ban around UK.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke while marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public areas will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common places where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plunged and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is on the net. Players realise that they can bet on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a drink and fag and still have a chance at monstrous prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing online can never replace the social portion of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little option.
