Can the Smoking Ban in England Force Bingo Players On to the Internet?
Much has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti smoking law in the UK. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive aid to help keep the businesses afloat. But can the web variation of this classic game offer a salvation, or might it not compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?
Bingo is an familiar game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors instead of the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the enacting of the cigarette ban around UK.
No more will gamblers be allowed to smoke whilst marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common areas where people like to puff on cigarettes.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Obviously they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is on the net. People know that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beer and fag and still enjoy big cash rewards. This is a recent development and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left many bingo players with no option.