Will the Anti Cigarette Law in Britain Force Bingo Players Online?
Much has been talked in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But will the online version of this quintessential game offer a salvation, or will it in no way compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an age old game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had experienced a recent resurgence in appeal with younger men and women deciding to go to the bingo parlours in place of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to change with the enforcement of the cigarette ban across Britain.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular areas where players like to smoke.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlours. Numbers have dropped and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not cast aside this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. People realise that they can play bingo using their computer while enjoying a beverage and cig and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on on the internet is unlikely to replace the social portion of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the rules have left a lot of bingo players with no option.