[ English ]

Much has been reported in the papers just a while ago about the bingo industry singing the blues as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have become so poor that in Scotland the Bingo industry has demanded massive tax breaks to help keep the industry afloat. However will the net adaptation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or will it not compare to its real life relative?

Bingo has been an ancient game normally enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game of late had undergone a recent return in appeal with younger people deciding to hit the bingo parlours rather than the clubs on a Saturday night. All this is about to be destroyed with the enforcement of the cigarette ban all over United Kingdom.

No longer will enthusiasts be able to smoke while marking off their numbers. Beginning in the summer of ‘07 every public area will no longer be allowed to permit smoking in their buildings and this includes Bingo parlours, one of the most popular places where players like to smoke.

The outcome of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where smoking is already forbidden in the bingo halls. Players have dropped and the business is beyond a doubt fighting for its life. But where did the players go? Surely they haven’t cast aside this classic game?

The answer is on the web. Players realize that they can gamble on bingo in front of their computer whilst enjoying a beverage and smoke and still have a chance at monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent development and has happened bordering on perfect with the anti smoking law.

Of course playing on the net is unlikely to replace the communal portion of going over to the bingo parlour, but for a demographic of players the law has left a number of bingo players with no option.