|
|
40 million have played online to date, says iReach
One of the more interesting statistical reports out this week was published in Ireland's Silicon Republic, which recorded that research company iReach has found that online gambling to date has attracted 40 million users worldwide, a number that is likely to quadruple by 2020.
“The proliferation of new technologies has certainly helped shape a once embryonic marketplace with access to online gambling and gaming sites now aided through broadband internet, WAP technology and interactive television” said Ara Cho, business analyst with iReach.
iReach estimates that there are approximately 340 000 Irish users who gamble online, making the continued profitability in that region highly likely. Irish betting companies with Internet operations, such as Paddy Power have prospered and in 2006 the company’s turnover based on internet gambling increased by 44 percent.
According to Section 33 of the Betting Act, 1931, it is illegal under Irish law for an Irish resident to place a bet with an agent operating outside the Irish State but this is nearly impossible to enforce and implement, iReach says.
Neil Brennan of iReach said that 4.5 percent of mobile users worldwide now use their phones to gamble. Although the market for mobile gambling in Ireland is not very large at the moment it will surely grow, with operators such as Paddy Power using software with java applets to allow users to place bets from their phone.
Juniper Research predicted that by 2011 revenue from mobile gambling will have exceeded that of profits from music downloads. |
|
发表于 2007-4-28 00:57
