An abundance has been talked in the press recently about the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the cigarette ban in England. Things have become so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big tax breaks to help keep the businesses alive. However can the internet version of this traditional game present a salvation, or might it not compare to its real life kin?

Bingo has been an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game recently had seen a recent comeback in acceptance with younger people deciding to go to the bingo parlours in place of the bars on a Friday night. All this is about to be reversed with the enacting of the cigarette ban around UK.

Players will no longer be able to puff on cigarettes at the same time marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public location will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, which are possibly the most common places where many people like to puff on cigarettes.

The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo parlours. Players have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for to stay alive. But where have the players gone? Of course they have not forgotten this classic game?

The answer is on the internet. Players know that they can bet on bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a drink and cigarette and in the end, enjoy massive jackpots. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.

Of course betting on online will never replace the social part of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a group of men and women the law has left many bingo players with no alternative.