11.05
Might the Cigarette Ban in Britain Drive Bingo Players On to the Internet?
An abundance has been talked in the papers just a while ago about the bingo industry singing the blues because of the cigarette ban in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But does the online adaptation of this quintessential game offer a escape, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo has been an ancient game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent return in popularity with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo parlors in place of the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law all over UK.
Players will no longer be allowed to smoke at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will no longer be permitted to allow cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular places where many people like to puff on cigarettes.
The results of the smoking ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Of course they have not cast aside this classic game?
The answer is online. People know that they can enjoy bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and in the end, have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.
Of course wagering on online will never replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of people the law has left a number of bingo players with little option.