2006
31May06 - Juniper Research expects bets placed over mobile phone applications to rise from just under $2bn currently to in excess of $23bn by 2011, according to a forecast released today.
08May06 – Press Release - According to the poll of Internet gamblers, conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., fully 70 percent of respondents started gambling online within the past two years, indicating the growing popularity of this activity. And while Internet gamblers in the U.S. say they enjoy online gambling for its convenience, more than half (55 percent) believe online gaming companies find ways to cheat, and 46 percent believe their fellow players cheat. The survey also revealed a great deal of confusion about the legality of online gambling, with a mere 19 percent of respondents realizing - - or willing to admit -- that the activity currently is illegal in the U.S.
9 April 2006 - http://www.onlinecasinoreports.com/ - According to recent statistics, German gambling fans spent over 3 billion euros at online casinos in 2005. Last year's figures also revealed that gambling at online casinos increased by 35 percent in Germany. In comparison, Germany's neighboring countries Austria and Switzerland spent 1.3 billion euros and 0.3 billion euros respectively at online casinos. The statistics are part of a study conducted by consulting firm Gold Media on the performance of the online casino industry, lotteries and sports betting in Germany and Austria. Per capita, Austrians are the most avid online casinos fans, spending 177 euros last year compared to Germany's 40.
Switzerland per capita spent 36 euros at online casinos in 2005. However, perhaps the most interesting fact unearthed by Gold Media's study is that the difference between the spending habits of gambling fans depends very much on the different online gaming regulations operating in the three countries.
While gambling at online casinos is considered an illegal activity by all three governments. Austrians are permitted to participate in sports betting legally. State providers in Austria can also offer gambling at online casinos, while this does not take place in Germany or Switzerland.
16Mar06 – Stephens Washington Bureau - Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, who said "the illegal Internet gambling industry has boomed" because Congress has failed for nearly a decade to pass legislation to crack down on online wagering. Americans this year (2006) are projected to send about $6 billion to unregulated, offshore, online casinos, which is about half of the $12 billion that will be bet worldwide through the Internet, Leach said. "Unlike in brick and mortar casinos in the United States where legal protections for bettors exist and where there is some compensatory social benefit in jobs and tax revenues, Internet gambling sites principally yield only liabilities to America and to Americans," Leach said.
2005
16Nov05 - NY Times - Internet gambling is projected to reach almost $12 billion in business this year (2005), up from $8.3 billion in 2004, according to Sebastian Sinclair, a gambling industry analyst with Christiansen Capital Advisors. Americans account for more than half of the amount wagered, Internet casino executives and industry analysts say.
15Jul05 - Christianson Capital Advisors forecast that online gaming revenue will rise to $22.7 billion (US) by 2009, from $8.2 billion in 2004, a growth of 22 percent. Online gaming is also expected grab an 8.1% share of the worldwide global gaming market. Online interest is continuing to grow according to Canadian firm Pokerpulse, an industry watchdog. Over $190 million (US) is wagered every 24 hours at virtual tables around the world, by an estimated 1.8 million players, according to the group. Over all, Internet gambling is projected to reach almost $12 billion in business this year (2005), up from $8.3 billion in 2004, according to Sebastian Sinclair, a gambling industry analyst with Christianson Capital Advisors.
The fledgling industry occupies just three per cent of all worldwide gaming activity but it is growing at more than 20 per cent annually, according to a recent report by U.S. analyst firm Christianson Capital Advisors. After years of escalating growth, online gambling is poised for its biggest year in 2005. IGaming will rake in nearly $10 billion in revenue this year, up 40% from 2004. In 1996, when IGaming was in its infancy, the industry collected $30 million.
