Much has been reported in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry struggling as a result of the smoking ban in the UK. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded huge aid to assist in keeping the businesses from going bankrupt. However can the web adaptation of this classic game provide a reprieve, or might it in no way compare to its land based opposite?

Bingo is an ancient game generally played by the "blue rinse" generation. For all that the game recently had experienced a recent comeback in popularity with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the clubs on a weekend. All this is about to change with the introduction of the cigarette ban all over England and Wales.

No more will players be allowed to smoke while marking off their numbers. From the summer of 2007 all public areas will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their locations and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common areas where folks enjoy smoking.

The outcome of the cigarette ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already not allowed in the bingo parlors. Players have dropped and the industry is absolutely fighting for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they haven’t given up on this age old game?

The answer is on the net. People realise that they can bet on bingo using their computer whilst enjoying a beer and cig and still enjoy big jackpots. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.

Of course wagering on on the net is unlikely to replace the communal part of going over to the bingo parlor, but for a demographic of people the rules have left many bingo players with little choice.