Much has been written in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. But does the net version of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or will it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo has been an familiar game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had undergone a recent return in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to go to the bingo parlors in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the anti cigarette law throughout Britain.
No more will players be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favored locations where players enjoy smoking.
The results of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo halls. Profits have plunged and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Obviously they have not cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the net. People realise that they can participate in bingo using their computer while enjoying a beer and fag and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course playing on the internet could never replace the social portion of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the rules have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.
