Internet Gambling Thriving In China
Published: Friday, July 08, 2005 Online-Casinos.com
CHINA THE NEXT BIG WAVE?
Despite reports of a government crackdown, Internet gambling seems to be thriving
Canada's Globe and Mail carried an interesting report this week on the attractions
of the Chinese market, long the "Holy Grail" of online gambling marketers.
The article revealed that even in the midst of a reported national anti-gambling
crackdown, it only took a few minutes for journalists in the Globe and Mail's
Beijing bureau to place an illegal wager.
Gambling is part of the national culture, and remains a powerful lure for millions
of people in China, where an estimated US$50-billion is spent annually at underground
casinos and gambling rings.
"The online gambling industry has grown exponentially in recent years but
many players in the business still say the sky's the limit," the story reports,
adding that because the industry is maturing in Europe and North America, many
experts look to China as the next big wave.
Media reports from Beijing estimate that more than 780 foreign gambling websites
are providing Chinese-language web pages. And The Globe's journos found it easy
to evade the rules and make wagers.
