A lot has been stated in the papers recently about the bingo industry being hurt because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge tax breaks to help keep the industry alive. But can the net variation of this traditional game present a escape, or might it never compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an established game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game of late had experienced a recent return in popularity with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the enacting of the cigarette ban around UK.
Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite locations where folks enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Players have plummeted and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t deserted this established game?
The answer is on the net. Players realise that they can participate in bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and fag and in the end, have a chance at monstrous jackpots. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on online can never replace the communal portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left many bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.