[ English ]

Much has been written in the papers just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in England. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for huge aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But does the web version of this classic game offer a reprieve, or will it in no way compare to its land based relative?

Bingo has been an age old game normally enjoyed by the "blue rinse" generation. However the game recently had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a Friday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the legislating of the smoking ban all over Britain.

Players will no longer be permitted to smoke at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public place will not be permitted to allow cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common places where people enjoy smoking.

The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already not allowed in the bingo parlours. Players have plummeted and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Surely they haven’t forgotten this ancient game?

The answer is on the net. People are now realizing that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a cocktail and cigarette and in the end, enjoy monstrous jackpots. This is a recent development and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.

Of course playing on the web will never replace the collective aspect of going down to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little alternative.