Will the Anti Smoking Law in England Force Bingo Players On to the Internet?
Much has been talked in the press recently about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax breaks to help keep the industry afloat. But can the net variation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or will it never compare to its real life relative?
Bingo has been an established game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had witnessed a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to be reversed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law all over Britain.
No more will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes while dabbing numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored locations where people like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they haven’t cast aside this familiar game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beverage and smoke and in the end, have a chance at monstrous prizes. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on online will never replace the collective aspect of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with no option.