A lot has been talked in the papers recently about the bingo industry struggling because of the smoking ban in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However does the internet version of this traditional game provide a reprieve, or will it not compare to its real life relative?

Bingo is an age old game generally played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game lately had seen a recent resurgence in popularity with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law around Britain.

No more will gamblers be able to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public areas will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most popular locations where many people enjoy smoking.

The results of the anti cigarette law can already be looked at in Scotland where smoking is already barred in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plummeted and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t deserted this familiar game?

The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can gamble on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beer and fag and still have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent development and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.

Of course wagering on online can never replace the collective part of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the law has left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little option.