Much has been reported in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a result of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded big tax breaks to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the internet variation of this quintessential game provide a reprieve, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar relative?
Bingo has been an ancient game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. For all that the game recently had undergone a recent resurgence in popularity with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the anti smoking law across UK.
No more will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favored locations where many people enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Of course they haven’t abandoned this age old game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a drink and cigarette and still have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.
Of course gambling on on the web is unlikely to replace the communal part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of men and women the rules have left many bingo enthusiasts with little choice.
This entry was posted on October 25, 2025, 9:25 am 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.