Might the Smoking Ban in Britain Drive Bingo Players On to the Net?
A lot has been talked in the press recently about the bingo industry struggling because of the anti smoking law in Britain. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However does the internet version of this quintessential game present a lifeline, or will it not compare to its land based peer?
Bingo is an classic game generally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had seen a recent resurgence in appeal with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the anti smoking law across United Kingdom.
Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common places where folks enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo halls. Profits have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Of course they have not forgotten this classic game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realise that they can participate in bingo using their computer while enjoying a beverage and cigarette and still enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.
Of course wagering on on the internet is unlikely to replace the communal part of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a good many bingo enthusiasts with no option.