MILLIONS OF ONLINE GAMBLERS BY 2020 RESEARCH COMPANY
PREDICTS
27 April 2007
40 million have played online to date, says iReach
One of the more interesting statistical reports out this
week was published in Ireland's Silicon Republic, which
recorded that research company iReach has found that
online gambling to date has attracted 40 million users
worldwide, a number that is likely to quadruple by 2020.
“The proliferation of new technologies has certainly
helped shape a once embryonic marketplace with access to
online gambling and gaming sites now aided through
broadband internet, WAP technology and interactive
television” said Ara Cho, business analyst with iReach.
The report also looks at the social aspect of online
gambling, citing examples of online games such as "World
of Warcraft" or "Second Life" where it's not just the
game that attracts players. "World of Warcraft"
generated $100 million in several markets during its
first year partly because it offers people a place to
make friends and participate in an online community.
Online poker sites and casinos offer that same
opportunity to socialise and profit.
The United Kingdom alone provides 4 million of the
estimated 40 million users in the online gaming world.
That number is expected to increase due to the passage
of the 2005 Gambling Act.
iReach estimates that there are approximately 340 000
Irish users who gamble online, making the continued
profitablity in that region highly likely. Irish betting
companies with Internet operations, such as Paddy Power
have prospered and in 2006 the company’s turnover based
on internet gambling increased by 44 percent.
According to Section 33 of the Betting Act, 1931, it is
illegal under Irish law for an Irish resident to place a
bet with an agent operating outside the Irish State but
this is nearly impossible to enforce and implement,
iReach says.
Neil Brennan of iReach said that 4.5 percent of mobile
users worldwide now use their phones to gamble. Although
the market for mobile gambling in Ireland is not very
large at the moment it will surely grow, with operators
such as Paddy Power using software with java applets to
allow users to place bets from their phone.
Juniper Research predicted that by 2011 revenue from
mobile gambling will have exceeded that of profits from
music downloads.
Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa
More news here.
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