A lot has been talked in the press not long ago regarding the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the smoking ban in Britain. Things have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has requested big aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. But will the net adaptation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or might it never compare to its land based relative?

Bingo is an familiar game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game of late had seen a recent resurgence in popularity with younger men and women opting to hit the bingo parlors rather than the discos on a Saturday night. This is all about to get flipped on its head with the enforcement of the anti smoking law throughout United Kingdom.

No more will enthusiasts be permitted to smoke while dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 all public places will not be allowed to permit smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, one of the most common areas where people like to puff on cigarettes.

The effects of the anti cigarette law can already be looked at in Scotland where cigarettes are already banned in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Of course they haven’t deserted this age old game?

The answer is on the web. Players know that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer while enjoying a drink and cigarette and still have a chance at huge cash rewards. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.

Of course gambling on on the net is unlikely to replace the collective portion of heading down to the bingo hall, but for a group of players the governing edicts have left a number of bingo players with no alternative.