An abundance has been written in the papers not long ago about the bingo industry singing the blues because of the anti cigarette law in Britain. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But can the online version of this quintessential game offer a reprieve, or will it never compare to its bricks and mortar relative?

Bingo is an enduring game usually enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society deciding to visit the bingo parlors rather than the bars on a weekend. All this is about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law all over Britain.

Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular places where many people enjoy smoking.

The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where smoking is already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Certainly they have not forgotten this ancient game?

The answer is on the internet. Gamblers know that they can play bingo using their computer while enjoying a drink and smoke and in the end, have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent development and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.

Of course playing on the internet will never replace the social portion of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a demographic of players the rules have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no choice.