Might the Cigarette Ban in Britain Take Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Internet?
A lot has been talked in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the cigarette ban in the United Kingdom. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However can the online adaptation of this traditional game present a reprieve, or will it never compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an ancient game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to be reversed with the enacting of the anti smoking law throughout United Kingdom.
No more will enthusiasts be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public place will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most favorite locations where folks enjoy smoking.
The effects of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlours. Profits have plunged and the business is literally struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Surely they have not forgotten this classic game?
The answer is online. People realise that they can participate in bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the web can never replace the collective portion of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the rules have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.