Much has been written in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But can the net adaptation of this traditional game offer a salvation, or will it never compare to its real life peer?
Bingo has been an established game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had witnessed a recent return in appeal with younger people deciding to visit the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to be reversed with the enforcement of the cigarette ban around England and Wales.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke while marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most popular places where players like to smoke.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo halls. Players have plunged and the industry is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t cast aside this familiar game?
The answer is online. Players know that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and smoke and still have a chance at monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course wagering on online is unlikely to replace the social portion of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left a good many bingo enthusiasts with little choice.