An abundance has been talked in the press recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in the UK. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the online version of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based kin?
Bingo is an established game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had seen a recent comeback in appeal with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlours in place of the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to change with the enacting of the anti smoking law all over United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public place will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite areas where people like to smoke.
The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the net. Players know that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beverage and cig and in the end, enjoy huge cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left a number of bingo players with little alternative.