Much has been talked in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues because of the anti smoking law in England. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big tax cuts to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But does the web version of this classic game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its land based peer?

Bingo has been an age old game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. Although the game of late had experienced a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger men and women opting to go to the bingo parlors rather than the clubs on a weekend. This is all about to change with the enforcement of the smoking ban around UK.

Players will no longer be permitted to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. Starting in the summer of ‘07 every public place will not be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most favorite places where many people like to smoke.

The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Profits have plunged and the business is literally struggling for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they haven’t deserted this enduring game?

The answer is on the internet. Gamblers realize that they can enjoy bingo using their computer while enjoying a beer and cigarette and still have a chance at big prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened almost perfectly with the anti cigarette law.

Of course playing on the web could never replace the communal part of heading down to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the rules have left many bingo players with little alternative.