An abundance has been stated in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. However will the internet version of this quintessential game present a salvation, or will it not compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an familiar game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in popularity with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law across United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will not be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular areas where people enjoy smoking.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlors. Numbers have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t cast aside this classic game?
The answer is online. People know that they can bet on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and smoke and in the end, enjoy huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course betting on on the internet will never replace the communal part of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the rules have left a number of bingo players with little choice.