Much has been reported in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive aid to assist in keeping the businesses alive. But can the web adaptation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or might it not compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo has been an established game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had seen a recent comeback in appeal with younger people deciding to go to the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the legislating of the anti smoking law across UK.
Players will no longer be able to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common locations where people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo parlours. Numbers have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t deserted this ancient game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can play bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and cig and in the end, enjoy massive jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course wagering on online is unlikely to replace the collective part of heading over to the bingo parlor, but for a group of men and women the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little option.
February 28th, 2016
Tamara
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