A lot has been talked in the press recently about the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax cuts to help keep the businesses alive. But will the web version of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or might it not compare to its real life kin?
Bingo is an ancient game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the anti cigarette law across UK.
No more will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes while marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favorite locations where players enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t forgotten this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. People realize that they can gamble on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and still have a chance at monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course gambling on on the web will never replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the rules have left a good many bingo players with no option.