Much has been reported in the papers recently about the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive aid to help keep the industry afloat. However can the internet variation of this classic game provide a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar peer?
Bingo is an ancient game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had seen a recent increase in acceptance with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo parlors in place of the bars on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the cigarette ban around Britain.
No longer will gamblers be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public areas will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored places where people like to smoke.
The results of the anti cigarette law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Surely they haven’t cast aside this enduring game?
The answer is on the internet. Gamblers know that they can bet on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beer and smoke and still have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.
Of course wagering on on the web is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of people the law has left a good many bingo players with little alternative.
This entry was posted on January 18, 2026, 6:25 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.