An abundance has been talked in the press not long ago about the bingo industry being hurt as a result of the cigarette ban in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge tax breaks to help keep the businesses afloat. But does the web variation of this traditional game present a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its real life kin?
Bingo has been an familiar game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had undergone a recent increase in appeal with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo halls in place of the bars on a Saturday night. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti smoking law across UK.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular areas where people enjoy smoking.
The results of the anti smoking law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo halls. Profits have plunged and the industry is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t given up on this classic game?
The answer is on the internet. People know that they can wager on bingo from their computer while enjoying a cocktail and cig and still have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course playing on the web is unlikely to replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the law has left many bingo players with no alternative.
August 24th, 2024
Tamara
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