A lot has been stated in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive aid to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the net adaptation of this traditional game present a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an established game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the anti cigarette law around United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be permitted to smoke while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common areas where many people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already illegal in the bingo parlours. Numbers have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Certainly they haven’t given up on this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers are now realizing that they can enjoy bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and in the end, enjoy huge prizes. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course gambling on on the web will never replace the communal aspect of going down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of people the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with little option.