Much has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry struggling because of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the net adaptation of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or might it in no way compare to its land based peer?
Bingo has been an enduring game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had undergone a recent return in acceptance with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo halls in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the anti cigarette law around Britain.
No longer will gamblers be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common locations where many people like to smoke.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlors. Players have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Obviously they have not forgotten this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and smoke and in the end, enjoy big jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course playing on the net is unlikely to replace the social aspect of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left a number of bingo players with no choice.
