Much has been written in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge aid to help keep the industry alive. But will the net variation of this classic game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo has been an age old game usually enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours in place of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the legislating of the anti smoking law throughout Britain.
Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favorite places where many people like to smoke.
The results of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Numbers have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not deserted this enduring game?
The answer is on the net. Gamblers are now realizing that they can enjoy bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy massive cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course wagering on online is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with no option.