Much has been talked in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry struggling as a result of the anti smoking law in the UK. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However will the net version of this traditional game offer a escape, or might it not compare to its real life opposite?

Bingo has been an age old game generally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. Although the game lately had undergone a recent resurgence in appeal with younger people opting to go to the bingo halls in place of the discos on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the introduction of the cigarette ban throughout UK.

No more will players be permitted to smoke while marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular areas where many people enjoy smoking.

The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo parlors. Numbers have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Obviously they have not deserted this established game?

The answer is on the internet. Players are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.

Of course wagering on online could never replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of men and women the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no option.