A lot has been reported in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hit as a result of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But will the internet version of this classic game present a salvation, or will it never compare to its land based opposite?
Bingo has been an age old game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had witnessed a recent increase in appeal with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law around UK.
No longer will players be allowed to smoke whilst marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public areas will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular locations where players enjoy smoking.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already banned in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not deserted this classic game?
The answer is on the web. Players realize that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course betting on online will never replace the social portion of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.
