An abundance has been reported in the press recently concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the cigarette ban in Britain. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for big tax cuts to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But does the online adaptation of this quintessential game provide a lifeline, or will it never compare to its real life equivalent?

Bingo is an familiar game usually played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game of late had experienced a recent comeback in popularity with younger people opting to visit the bingo parlors instead of the discos on a weekend. This is all about to be destroyed with the introduction of the anti smoking law all over United Kingdom.

Players will no longer be permitted to smoke while dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public location will not be permitted to allow smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular places where players like to smoke.

The effects of the anti smoking law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already illegal in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Of course they haven’t deserted this age old game?

The answer is on the internet. People are now realizing that they can play bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a cocktail and cig and in the end, enjoy huge prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti cigarette law.

Of course playing online could never replace the collective aspect of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of players the rules have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with no option.