A lot has been written in the press recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the cigarette ban in the UK. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive aid to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But can the web variation of this classic game offer a escape, or will it never compare to its real life relative?
Bingo has been an ancient game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had seen a recent comeback in popularity with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlours rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the legislating of the anti smoking law all over Britain.
No more will enthusiasts be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite locations where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo halls. Numbers have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the web. Players are now realizing that they can bet on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and cig and still enjoy monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the net is unlikely to replace the communal part of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left a good many bingo players with little option.