[ English ]

Much has been written in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax breaks to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But can the net version of this traditional game offer a reprieve, or will it never compare to its land based kin?

Bingo is an age old game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game recently had seen a recent comeback in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to be reversed with the introduction of the anti cigarette law all over Britain.

No longer will enthusiasts be allowed to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 all public locations will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favorite areas where many people like to smoke.

The results of the cigarette ban can already be observed in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Profits have plummeted and the industry is literally struggling for its life. But where have all the players gone? Surely they have not cast aside this classic game?

The answer is on the net. Players realize that they can wager on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a cocktail and smoke and in the end, enjoy huge jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.

Of course wagering on on the net will never replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.