A lot has been written in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in the UK. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the net adaptation of this quintessential game present a salvation, or might it not compare to its real life peer?
Bingo is an age old game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game recently had witnessed a recent return in popularity with younger people opting to hit the bingo halls in place of the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law across England and Wales.
No longer will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common locations where people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t deserted this established game?
The answer is on the internet. Players know that they can play bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on online can never replace the collective part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with little alternative.