Bingo

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Much has been written in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hit because of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big aid to assist in keeping the industry afloat. But can the net version of this traditional game offer a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar opposite?

Bingo has been an ancient game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had witnessed a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlors instead of the bars on a weekend. All this is about to be reversed with the legislating of the anti smoking law all over UK.

Players will no longer be allowed to smoke while marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public place will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular places where people like to puff on cigarettes.

The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Of course they haven’t deserted this age old game?

The answer is on the net. Players know that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and smoke and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti smoking law.

Of course wagering on on the net is unlikely to replace the collective part of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.