Bingo Tricks

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

A lot has been reported in the papers recently about the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the anti smoking law in England. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax cuts to help keep the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the internet variation of this quintessential game present a lifeline, or might it not compare to its real life peer?

Bingo has been an ancient game normally played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game of late had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger men and women opting to visit the bingo parlors instead of the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law all over Britain.

Players will no longer be able to smoke whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most popular places where folks enjoy smoking.

The effects of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo halls. Profits have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Obviously they have not given up on this age old game?

The answer is on the net. Players know that they can bet on bingo using their computer while enjoying a beer and cigarette and still have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.

Of course wagering on on the web is unlikely to replace the social portion of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with little choice.