Much has been stated in the papers recently about the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in England. Things have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the net version of this quintessential game present a lifeline, or will it never compare to its real life relative?

Bingo has been an age old game historically enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had experienced a recent increase in appeal with younger people opting to go to the bingo parlors in place of the clubs on a Saturday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the introduction of the smoking ban around Britain.

Players will no longer be able to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public place will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most favorite areas where people like to smoke.

The results of the cigarette ban can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already illegal in the bingo halls. Players have plunged and the business is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t deserted this ancient game?

The answer is online. People are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and fag and still have a chance at huge jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.

Of course playing on the web could never replace the social part of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with no option.