Feb 152023
An abundance has been reported in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry being hit as a result of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the net adaptation of this traditional game provide a salvation, or might it in no way compare to its land based relative?
Bingo is an ancient game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game lately had witnessed a recent comeback in appeal with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo halls in place of the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the smoking ban around Britain.
No longer will gamblers be able to puff on cigarettes whilst dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public places will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favored places where people like to puff on cigarettes.
The effects of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo halls. Players have plummeted and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where have the players gone? Obviously they haven’t abandoned this ancient game?
The answer is on the web. Gamblers realize that they can participate in bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a beer and fag and still have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course playing online is unlikely to replace the collective aspect of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of players the rules have left many bingo players with no choice.
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