A lot has been written in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But will the online variation of this classic game offer a salvation, or will it never compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo is an ancient game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game recently had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger people deciding to visit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law around Britain.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes whilst dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favored locations where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo parlours. Players have plummeted and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Of course they haven’t deserted this classic game?
The answer is on the internet. People realise that they can participate in bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and in the end, have a chance at big cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the internet will never replace the social part of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the rules have left a lot of bingo players with no option.