How Large or Small is the Online Casino Industry?

[Westland Bowl]

I used to think that the online casino industry is large but really there are only 10% out of 2,000 to 3,000 online casinos that are considered "reputable". I've heard that the online casino industry is something like $12 Billion US dollars. I would think that this is largely shared amongst the "reputable" caisnos and the rest must be spread thinly among the rest of them. Also, does the $12 Billion include the non-English online casinos?

Does the $12 Billion include sports betting?

I don't know if Asian and non-English online casinos is part of that estimated 2,000 to 3,000 online casinos or not. I guess Casinomeister, Winner Online, etc. do not have the means or language ability to review Chinese or Japanese online casinos but then again, if those online casinos do not offer an English version of their casino, then what's the point, huh? Kiwi Casino offers both English and Chinese versions.

[The Watchdog]

the $12 billion could actually be more and yes it does include sports wagering.

Regarding the percentage of reputible sites, the figure could be smaller than 10%.

Believe it or not, the other 90% of awful sites do make money and a lot.

Online gambling has been around for a while, however the average online gambler does not know how to spot a honest operation from a dishonest one.

I believe it has to do a lot with advertisement... A lot of sites will advertise wonderful promotions and excellent service, but at the end of the road is just a scam to rip you off.

The online gambler doesn´t take the time to research and test where they play, instead they will look for the brighter colors, the hugest bonuses and hot chiks on the site to decide who to do business with.

[chuchu59]

I used to think that the online casino industry is large but really there are only 10% out of 2,000 to 3,000 online casinos that are considered "reputable". I've heard that the online casino industry is something like $12 Billion US dollars. I would think that this is largely shared amongst the "reputable" caisnos and the rest must be spread thinly among the rest of them. Also, does the $12 Billion include the non-English online casinos?

Does the $12 Billion include sports betting?

I don't know if Asian and non-English online casinos is part of that estimated 2,000 to 3,000 online casinos or not. I guess Casinomeister, Winner Online, etc. do not have the means or language ability to review Chinese or Japanese online casinos but then again, if those online casinos do not offer an English version of their casino, then what's the point, huh? Kiwi Casino offers both English and Chinese versions.

Many MG casinos do offer Chinese versions of their software in varying degrees. Almost all of them, for example, directs you to the Chinese version of their banking page. Some playtechs and Intercasino(crypto) also have Chinese versions as well as the baddie G-FED. I have yet to see an RTG Chinese version though. If sports betting is excluded, the total revenue generated by the Big Four(software) should already comprise the lion's share.

[chuchu59]

the $12 billion could actually be more and yes it does include sports wagering.

Regarding the percentage of reputible sites, the figure could be smaller than 10%.

Believe it or not, the other 90% of awful sites do make money and a lot.

Online gambling has been around for a while, however the average online gambler does not know how to spot a honest operation from a dishonest one.

I believe it has to do a lot with advertisement... A lot of sites will advertise wonderful promotions and excellent service, but at the end of the road is just a scam to rip you off.

The online gambler doesn´t take the time to research and test where they play, instead they will look for the brighter colors, the hugest bonuses and hot chiks on the site to decide who to do business with.

I agree, Watchdog and compulsive gambling has a lot to do with it. Why make weekly pilgrimages to B&M casinos when all you need to do is start your computer and play with the click of a mouse. Besides spending on transport, you usually get your own chips worth but the attraction of bonuses gives you such a great feel that you are playing with the casino's money. If a player loses $100 after an hour's play, he just shrugs it off and says that he would have lost 10x this amount if he had played in land casinos and he has saved valuable time and money through not travelling.

When you have the urge you can play instantly, from waking up in the morning to having a pee in the middle of the night. What convenience and which you didnt have in your gambling life before. I have gone through that trauma before but didnt realise anything until a couple of casinos didnt pay me. Gambling.com(gambling grumbles) was the first site I came accross that taught me how to differentiate the goodies from the baddies and much later I found this site, which is at a more sophisticated level.

[Webzcas]

Interesting thread and a very good question. I believe the industry is still pretty much in it's infancy and will continue to grow over the next five years or so. At which at that time, the numbers involved will start to level out.

We are going to see a lot of consolidation of casino groups during this time also, of which it has already started with several acquisitions having already taken place this year.

Also if the US finally sorts it's act out and brings in proper legislation regulating but not prohibiting online gambling, the industry's potential to grow further will increase.

In short I believe the figures attributed to the value of the online gambling industry in 5 years time will dwarf those currently being talked about.

[jetset]

I agree - and most of the reputable independent business surveys also convey this sort of picture, with mobile gambling adding impetus to normal revenue expansion.

[GrandMaster]

Can anyone tell me what this $12 billion actually measures? I have seen so many figures without explanation.

[paul02085]

Does the 12 billion include poker?

[handkey]

I estimate the number of this industry at about 100 billion including poker and sports betting.

[vinylweatherman]

I am beginning to get the feeling that the lure of online casinos from the player's point of view has already peaked, and a slow decline is now taking place. Casinos are making bonuses and other promotional events ever tighter to the extent that playing them can be worse than ignoring them. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be taking the place of old style bonus offers. Even attempts to make tight bonuses understandable is being sabotaged by some operators who still insist on adding further complications to easy bonus systems (That means YOU Golden Reef! - earlier thread)
The worst thing that has emerged recently is the idea that any strategy that results in a player beating a bonus is "bonus abuse" by definition, and this despite the fact that the WR are so extreme that simple level betting will never allow the player to leave the casino with anything but the comp points.

I have yet to see the paytables of games improved to compensate for reduced bonuses, nor other features added to attract players, such as proper "instant payments" only ONE MG that I know of offers true instant payment, although a few come close, with same day or following day payment. Some RTG casinos I have tried recently also pay within hours, rather than days.

While this is the state for casinos, I can see opportunities for sites that offer peer to peer gaming, chiefly poker at present, but many other games can be played for money. With elements of skill involved, there is little need for big bonuses, the desire to be better than the rest, and let the world know, should be enough. Small bonuses may help to attract players to try out the site, but other than this, a system to recognise performance, and offer fame to winners, will be as attractive as bonuses. There are a few sites that cater for other games, and I have heard of chess for money, but not seen it anywhere.