In the UK and the US draconian smoking bans have decimated land based bingo halls on both sides of the Atlantic. One UK survey showed that almost 63% of all bingo players were smokers and the resulting drop in attendance at bingo clubs confirmed this fact. The internet bingo industry has been the chief beneficiary of smoking bans and many die hard bingo fans have gone online to play their favorite game. During the last two years UK based internet bingo websites have seen an astounding 80% increase in players. The drop in players forced many High Street bingo clubs to close their doors and lay off employees. For smokers shut out of bingo halls in Britain and America there may be a solution the ‘e-cigarette.

Now smokers can satisfy their nicotine addiction and play bingo legally at the same time thanks to this new invention. A 20 year die hard bingo player named Amy told reporters, "Our bingo hall was affected by the recent smoking ban implemented in our town several months ago. It was really becoming sad seeing our little community of friends dwindling. I had heard of the electronic cigarette for some time now but never took action. These devices are wonderful! I started smoking it in our bingo hall and it just went off like wildfire." E cigarettes have not been without controversy. Last year a UK bingo hall forced a woman ‘smoking’ an e cigarette to leave even though the new devices are legal under current law.

Most health experts say the e cigarette is a much better choice healthwise than regular cigarettes. Bingo players who smoke tobacco inhale a myriad of carcinogens and chemicals along with nicotine but the e cigarette contains only nicotine, water and propylene glycol. (A harmless food additive) E cigarettes feel, look and ‘smoke’ just like a regular cigarette but they are perfectly legal in bingo halls and other places where smoking is banned. The ersatz cigarettes have become so popular with bingo players that the company that manufactures e cigarettes is offering bingo players a 10% discount. Bingo players no longer have to venture out in inclement weather to ‘smoke.’

For those not satisfied by the e cigarette internet bingo is probably the best solution. Bingo sites are locked in a fierce competition for players and bigger bingo bonuses and other player perks make internet bingo extremely attractive to die hard smokers.