Will the Smoking Ban in Britain Drive Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Web?
An abundance has been stated in the papers recently about the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the smoking ban in the UK. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But can the internet adaptation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or might it never compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo is an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game of late had undergone a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people opting to hit the bingo halls instead of the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti smoking law across Britain.
Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite places where players enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Of course they have not abandoned this age old game?
The answer is on the net. Players realise that they can wager on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and cig and still enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course gambling on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal part of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with little choice.
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