A lot has been written in the papers just a while ago about the bingo industry being hurt because of the anti cigarette law in the UK. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge tax breaks to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However will the web variation of this classic game present a salvation, or will it never compare to its real life kin?

Bingo has been an familiar game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had experienced a recent increase in popularity with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlours in place of the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the anti cigarette law throughout United Kingdom.

Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public location will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite places where players enjoy smoking.

The results of the cigarette ban can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Certainly they haven’t abandoned this enduring game?

The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realise that they can play bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.

Of course wagering on on the internet can never replace the social aspect of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the rules have left many bingo players with little option.