No Wane In Online Poker Popularity
Published: Saturday, April 15, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
NO WANE IN POKER POPULARITY
30 percent growth in first quarter
Poker Pages Industry Index reports that the popularity of the game of poker
continues to rise, with a 30 percent growth in the first quarter 2006 over a similar
period last year.
The PPII for the first quarter of 2006 is currently at 130, indicating a growth
of 30 percent over the same period last year - with total buy-in dollars just
over $98 million. Growth over the last 12 months remains very strong, with the
buy-in Index for the period at 155, pointing to a growth of 55 percent over the
previous 12-month period.
Commenting on the latest figures, PPII founder Mark Napolitano, said: "Industry
growth is also being helped out by a rising average buy-in per entry. The Average
Buy-in per Entry Index for the quarter is 113, showing a growth of 13 percent
versus the same quarter last year, with an average buy-in of $1 207 per entry.
This also represents a trend with four consecutive months over $1,000."
March buy-in numbers showed a slowdown in growth at $33.9 million as a reslt of
a 29 percent decrease in the number of players competing in the Party Poker.com
Million Main Event and a slow month for the WSOP circuit, but April is likely
to be a good month with the introduction of a new World Poker Tour Event at the
Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, as well as their $25,000 championship event later
in the month at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
"Also, watch out for the newly formed International Poker Association's Tour
to make a quick impact with its inaugural event in May," says Napolitano,
who will be closely monitoring the stats for April, May and June, leading up to
the World Series of Poker, to help determine the overall pace for 2006.
