Will the Cigarette Ban in England Take Bingo Enthusiasts On to the Web?
A lot has been talked in the papers not long ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues because of the anti cigarette law in England. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge aid to help keep the industry alive. But will the web variation of this classic game provide a lifeline, or might it never compare to its land based kin?
Bingo has been an familiar game usually played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game recently had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger men and women opting to visit the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enacting of the smoking ban all over Britain.
No more will players be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most favorite places where folks enjoy smoking.
The results of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plunged and the industry is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Surely they haven’t given up on this ancient game?
The answer is online. Players realise that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a drink and fag and still have a chance at huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.
Of course gambling on on the net is unlikely to replace the social portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the rules have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.
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