An abundance has been written in the press recently concerning the bingo industry being hit as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested huge aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. However will the web adaptation of this traditional game present a reprieve, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar equivalent?

Bingo is an enduring game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game recently had witnessed a recent comeback in acceptance with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo halls instead of the discos on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the cigarette ban around Britain.

No longer will gamblers be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public area will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their venues and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most favorite places where many people like to smoke.

The results of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already barred in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the business is literally fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Certainly they haven’t given up on this classic game?

The answer is online. Players realize that they can wager on bingo using their computer while enjoying a cocktail and fag and in the end, enjoy massive jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.

Of course playing on the internet can never replace the collective aspect of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the governing edicts have left a lot of bingo players with little option.