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A lot has been talked in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in England. Things have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses alive. However does the web variation of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or might it never compare to its real life peer?

Bingo has been an established game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had experienced a recent return in popularity with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a weekend. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the cigarette ban throughout UK.

No longer will players be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular places where people enjoy smoking.

The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Profits have plunged and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t given up on this classic game?

The answer is on the web. People are now realizing that they can participate in bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a drink and smoke and in the end, have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened just about perfectly with the anti cigarette law.

Of course gambling on on the internet could never replace the social part of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of players the law has left many bingo enthusiasts with no choice.