A lot has been written in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry being hit as a result of the smoking ban in England. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But does the web adaptation of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its real life relative?
Bingo is an age old game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game recently had seen a recent comeback in popularity with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo parlors instead of the discos on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the legislating of the smoking ban across Britain.
No more will gamblers be permitted to smoke while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public locations will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common places where folks enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not given up on this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can play bingo from their computer while enjoying a beverage and fag and in the end, enjoy huge cash rewards. This is a recent development and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the web is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the rules have left many bingo players with little choice.