Online Casino Gambling Newsbriefs
Published: Friday, April 22, 2005 Online-Casinos.com
ONLINE CASINO GAMBLING NEWSBRIEFS
Profits and people up at UK Betting
Online gambling group UK Betting has enjoyed a good business year judging by financial reports just released.
Group turnover rose 57percent to GBP 85.6 million and gross profit rose 109 percent to GBP 19 million. Exceptional items and non-recurring costs took a big bite of this but the company still made earnings of GBP 100,000, its first ever positive return at this level. Site visitors to its operations were well up as Football 365 and Planet Rugby claimed 7.1 million users at the end of 2004, up 25 percent on the previous year. Since the turn of the year this has risen another 32 percent to 8.3 million users generating 260 million page impressions a year.
South Africa to regulate?
South African media reports this week claim that the government plans to develop a new policy on Internet gambling this year. Minister of trade and industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, said in his budget vote in Parliament this week: "Further strengthening and effective implementation of consumer protection will continue this year. The department will establish a new consumer credit regulator, develop a policy on Internet gambling and assess the impact of gambling, consumer credit and liquor." At present, Internet gambling is regulated by various provincial gaming laws and is touched on by the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.
Online poker - $60 billion business in 2005
Latest study from the Research and Markets organisation continues to paint a rosy picture of the online poker business:
The amount gambled on poker websites around the world is estimated to be more than US$ 60 billion for 2005.
More than 60% of the industry experts surveyed believe that online poker will be the dominant offer in online gambling in 2-3 years.
75 percent of the industry experts surveyed believe that the global annual rake/commission in the 2-3 years will be more than US$ 4 billion.
When it comes to geographical expansion, Europe seems to be the place to go; 52 percent of the experts believe that Europe offers the greatest future potential for online poker. Market leader PartyPoker, for example, is planning to launch its presence on television throughout Europe very soon and already operates its site in one other language besides English - German.
On the downside, the study points out that the online poker market will become a tougher market in the future. With decreasing revenues per active player and growing competition, the poker operators have to find successful strategies for the future.
The industry insiders surveyed recommend as the most important strategies for the future the creation of poker networks, the entry into the market by more betting brands such as Ladbrokes, and the consolidation of poker sites.
New slots from RTG
Players are currently trying out three recently introduced Video Slots from Real Time Gaming in the form of Aztec's Treasure, Goldbeard and Ronin. Graphics are said to be of a particularly high quality and the gameplay fast and smooth.
WSOP is nigh...
The 2005 World Series of Poker event is scheduled to begin June 2, 2005 in Las Vegas and an estimated 7,000 players are expected to participate in the $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event. Anyone, regardless of gender or nationality can play in the WSOP main event as long as they are 21 years of age and can afford the $10,000 entrance fee.
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