An abundance has been written in the press recently about the bingo industry struggling because of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to help keep the businesses alive. But does the online variation of this traditional game present a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its land based peer?
Bingo is an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had undergone a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo parlours rather than the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the anti cigarette law throughout England and Wales.
No more will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public places will not be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favorite areas where folks like to smoke.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they have not abandoned this age old game?
The answer is on the web. Players realise that they can participate in bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beer and fag and in the end, enjoy massive prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course wagering on on the web is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of people the law has left a lot of bingo players with little choice.