A lot has been talked in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to help keep the businesses afloat. But does the internet variation of this quintessential game provide a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an age old game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society opting to visit the bingo parlors instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the anti smoking law throughout United Kingdom.
No longer will enthusiasts be able to smoke while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored areas where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where have the players gone? Certainly they have not given up on this established game?
The answer is on the net. Players know that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beer and smoke and still enjoy monstrous jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the internet is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the law has left a number of bingo players with no choice.