An abundance has been written in the papers recently about the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge tax cuts to help keep the businesses alive. However will the internet variation of this quintessential game provide a salvation, or will it never compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo has been an classic game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game lately had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo parlors in place of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law around Britain.
No longer will players be permitted to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public areas will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favorite locations where players like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlours. Numbers have dropped and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Of course they haven’t deserted this age old game?
The answer is online. People know that they can enjoy bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, have a chance at monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent development and has timed itself almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course wagering on online can never replace the communal part of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a number of bingo players with little alternative.