Might the Smoking Ban in Britain Force Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Net?

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A lot has been stated in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive aid to help keep the industry afloat. However can the web adaptation of this traditional game present a escape, or will it not compare to its land based relative?

Bingo has been an enduring game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game of late had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo parlours in place of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the legislating of the anti smoking law across United Kingdom.

Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst marking numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 all public areas will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite places where players enjoy smoking.

The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have plummeted and the industry is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where did all the players go? Of course they haven’t abandoned this age old game?

The answer is on the internet. Players realise that they can participate in bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.

Of course gambling on online could never replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left many bingo players with no alternative.