Bingo

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A lot has been written in the press just a while ago about the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the anti cigarette law in England. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. But does the internet version of this classic game offer a lifeline, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar peer?

Bingo has been an enduring game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had seen a recent resurgence in popularity with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the cigarette ban around UK.

No more will gamblers be able to puff on cigarettes while marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public places will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favored places where people like to puff on cigarettes.

The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t abandoned this familiar game?

The answer is on the internet. Gamblers are now realizing that they can bet on bingo from their computer while enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.

Of course gambling on online is unlikely to replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the rules have left many bingo players with no alternative.