Snow and storm coulkd be good for online gambling

[jetset]

BAD WINTER WEATHER COULD BE GOOD FOR ONLINE CASINOS


When the blizzard howls and temperatures plummet, its time to turn to indoor pursuits

"It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good", claims an old saw that could have real meaning this week. Temperatures in some Canadian and US areas have dropped below freezing, reminding operators in sunnier climes that bad weather up north often produces better business for online gambling as punters seek indoor entertainment.

Illustrating the phenomenon this week was PokerStars, where over 12 000 poker players hit the virtual tables in a 24 hour peak at the popular global site, exceeding the daily average for the week of 8 000. Next most demanded, Full Tilt Poker recorded a 24 hour peak of 6 362, also well up on the weekly daily average of 3 795, and Mansion Poker reported surges in traffic from the American Midwest states, too where extreme winter conditions have been experienced.

It's not all good, however - heavy snowfalls and icy conditions have the potential to interrupt power supplies, leaving PCs cold and unusable.

With predictions of more of the same this weekend, online business could be in for a solid winter boost from major populated areas on the US and Canadian east coast that are likely to be affected, along with Northern Europe.