Posted by Jace | Posted in Bingo | Posted on 04-04-2019
A lot has been talked in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the cigarette ban in Britain. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses alive. However can the internet adaptation of this traditional game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its real life equivalent?
Bingo is an age old game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game lately had experienced a recent comeback in appeal with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlors instead of the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the legislating of the smoking ban around UK.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular areas where folks like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the industry is literally fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Obviously they have not deserted this familiar game?
The answer is on the web. People realize that they can wager on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and fag and in the end, have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent development and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing on the web will never replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with little option.