A lot has been reported in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry being hurt as a result of the anti smoking law in the United Kingdom. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive aid to help keep the industry afloat. But will the web variation of this classic game provide a reprieve, or will it not compare to its land based equivalent?
Bingo is an ancient game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlors in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law all over Britain.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public areas will not be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favored places where many people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t cast aside this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers are now realizing that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy big prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on on the net is unlikely to replace the communal portion of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.