Could the Cigarette Ban in England Force Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Web?
An abundance has been reported in the papers just a while ago about the bingo industry struggling because of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the online version of this traditional game provide a salvation, or will it not compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an established game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had seen a recent increase in appeal with younger people deciding to hit the bingo halls instead of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the smoking ban throughout England and Wales.
No more will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public areas will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common places where people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Numbers have dropped and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they have not deserted this enduring game?
The answer is online. People realize that they can participate in bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and smoke and still have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the rules have left many bingo enthusiasts with little choice.
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