A lot has been talked in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a result of the cigarette ban in Britain. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses alive. However will the online variation of this quintessential game offer a escape, or might it never compare to its land based peer?

Bingo is an established game usually played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game of late had experienced a recent comeback in popularity with younger members of society opting to hit the bingo halls rather than the discos on a weekend. This is all about to be reversed with the enacting of the anti smoking law around United Kingdom.

No longer will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most popular locations where folks enjoy smoking.

The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo halls. Profits have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Of course they haven’t cast aside this ancient game?

The answer is on the internet. Gamblers know that they can enjoy bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a drink and fag and still enjoy huge prizes. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.

Of course gambling on on the internet will never replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with no alternative.