Mobile Gambling In The News Again

Published: Friday, August 05, 2005 Online-Casinos.com

MOBILE GAMBLING IN THE NEWS AGAIN

Annual revenue levels of $1.2 billion to reach US$7.6 billion by 2010, say analysts

Mobile, and specifically cell-phone gambling received major coverage this week thanks to an article from vnunet.com which was picked up by the mainstream wire services, consequently appearing across a wide range of international media.

The article quotes industry analysts, who predict that the global market for mobile gambling is poised to rocket from current annual revenue levels of $1.2 billion to reach US$7.6 billion by 2010.

And in five years there will be more than 200 million consumers gambling using their mobiles, according to Informa Telecoms & Media's latest report, "Mobile Gambling."

"Mobile gambling is already generating significant revenues, but there is room for sharp growth in the years ahead," said Stuart Dredge, the report's author.

"Operators recognise that there is a strong demand for mobile gambling services, and there is no shortage of companies looking to provide them. However, the industry must keep in mind its responsibilities to tackle underage and problem gambling."

Mobile gambling on casino games will be popular, particularly as internet casinos migrate their games to mobile. However, Informa predicts that sports betting will be a niche sector by comparison, although bookmakers have been keen to launch mobile applications for their customers to bet on the move.

Europe is likely to remain the largest market for mobile gambling, generating $3.2 billion of annual revenues by 2010. However, it will be closely followed by Asia-Pacific, which is forecast to generate $2.7 billion by 2010.

North America is described as "the great unknown", as the size of the market there depends first on mobile gambling being legalised in the US, and then on which restrictions are then placed upon it. Nevertheless, the report predicts $979 million of annual revenues for the region by 2010.

Agence France Presse was also active with the mobile survey report, saying that Asian punters will drive sharp growth in the mobile gambling industry over the next five years, with global revenues forecast to top seven billion dollars a year by 2010.