A lot has been reported in the papers recently concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the anti cigarette law in the UK. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has asked for big aid to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. However can the web version of this quintessential game provide a salvation, or might it not compare to its real life relative?

Bingo is an age old game usually played by the "blue haired" generation. However the game recently had seen a recent resurgence in acceptance with younger people deciding to go to the bingo halls in place of the discos on a Saturday night. All this is about to get flipped on its head with the legislating of the anti cigarette law all over UK.

No more will gamblers be able to smoke whilst marking numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be permitted to allow smoking in their venues and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most common areas where people enjoy smoking.

The outcome of the anti cigarette law can already be felt in Scotland where smoking is already not permitted in the bingo parlors. Profits have plummeted and the business is literally struggling for its life. But where did all the players go? Obviously they have not cast aside this established game?

The answer is on the web. Players realise that they can wager on bingo using their computer while enjoying a drink and smoke and still enjoy massive prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has timed itself bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.

Of course gambling on online will never replace the collective portion of heading over to the bingo parlour, but for a group of men and women the rules have left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.