Bingo

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A lot has been written in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Conditions have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the web variation of this quintessential game provide a escape, or will it not compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?

Bingo is an ancient game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game of late had seen a recent increase in appeal with younger men and women deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the smoking ban across England and Wales.

Players will no longer be allowed to smoke while marking numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common areas where players like to puff on cigarettes.

The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Profits have plunged and the business is absolutely fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this classic game?

The answer is online. Gamblers realise that they can bet on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a drink and cig and in the end, have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.

Of course gambling on on the web will never replace the communal part of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left many bingo enthusiasts with no option.