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A lot has been reported in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues because of the smoking ban in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the businesses alive. But does the web adaptation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or might it never compare to its land based opposite?

Bingo is an established game normally played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had undergone a recent increase in popularity with younger men and women deciding to visit the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti cigarette law throughout Britain.

Players will no longer be allowed to puff on cigarettes while marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public locations will not be permitted to allow smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most common locations where players enjoy smoking.

The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not permitted in the bingo parlours. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely struggling for to stay alive. But where did the players go? Obviously they haven’t deserted this ancient game?

The answer is on the web. People realise that they can bet on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and still have a chance at massive prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.

Of course wagering on on the net is unlikely to replace the social portion of going over to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.