Much has been stated in the press recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However can the web adaptation of this quintessential game offer a salvation, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar kin?
Bingo is an age old game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game lately had seen a recent return in appeal with younger men and women opting to visit the bingo parlours instead of the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the cigarette ban across UK.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most popular locations where folks enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo halls. Players have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is online. Players realise that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and smoke and still have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on online could never replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the law has left many bingo players with little choice.