Could the Cigarette Ban in Britain Drive Bingo Enthusiasts Online?
A lot has been talked in the press just a while ago about the bingo industry singing the blues because of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax breaks to help keep the businesses alive. But does the internet version of this quintessential game provide a salvation, or might it not compare to its bricks and mortar relative?
Bingo has been an enduring game historically enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game recently had witnessed a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people deciding to visit the bingo parlours instead of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti smoking law around UK.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common places where folks enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Players have plunged and the industry is absolutely struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t deserted this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers are now realizing that they can play bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beer and fag and in the end, enjoy massive prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing online will never replace the social portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the law has left many bingo players with little choice.
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