Much has been written in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have become so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But does the net variation of this quintessential game offer a lifeline, or might it never compare to its real life relative?
Bingo is an enduring game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had witnessed a recent increase in appeal with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to change with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout England and Wales.
Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public areas will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Profits have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is online. Gamblers realize that they can bet on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a drink and cig and in the end, have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself almost perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course betting on on the internet could never replace the social part of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the law has left a number of bingo players with no option.
This entry was posted on December 16, 2023, 8:25 pm and is filed under Bingo. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.