An abundance has been stated in the papers recently regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the cigarette ban in England. Conditions have grown so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for massive aid to help keep the businesses alive. But does the net variation of this traditional game provide a escape, or will it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar kin?

Bingo has been an familiar game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. However the game recently had experienced a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo halls rather than the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the introduction of the anti smoking law throughout UK.

Players will no longer be permitted to smoke whilst dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public places will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most favored places where folks enjoy smoking.

The outcome of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the business is literally fighting for to stay alive. But where have all the players gone? Surely they haven’t cast aside this established game?

The answer is online. Gamblers realise that they can bet on bingo from their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and smoke and still have a chance at big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened bordering on perfect with the ban on smoking.

Of course betting on online is unlikely to replace the social aspect of heading over to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with little option.