Bingo

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An abundance has been reported in the papers recently about the bingo industry struggling as a result of the anti cigarette law in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses afloat. However will the internet version of this quintessential game provide a reprieve, or will it never compare to its real life opposite?

Bingo is an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in popularity with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo parlors instead of the bars on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law throughout England and Wales.

Players will no longer be permitted to smoke at the same time marking numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public area will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favorite areas where players like to smoke.

The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Of course they have not deserted this established game?

The answer is online. Players realise that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a cocktail and smoke and in the end, enjoy big prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.

Of course playing online is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the rules have left many bingo enthusiasts with little option.