Australian Enthusiasm for Pokies on the Decline
As quoted in The Australian, a report from the Swinbourne University of Technology in Melbourne indicates an overall decline in the amount of money spent on poker machines, or "pokies," by Australians over the past five years.
The report cites a ten percent decline in money spent on pokies in the last five years and the number of regular pokie players has declined from a third of Australian adults in 1996 to only a quarter of adults being regulars at the poker machines.
Consumer sentiment may be swaying the other way, as noted by Swinbourne researcher David Hayward. "We found that eight out of 10 people found that poker machines did more harm than good," says Hayward.
Australia currently has 20 percent of the world's poker machines and other studies have shown that Australians spend about 3 percent of their disposable income on gambling.
Gambling Sector Online Ads Increase Over 100 Percent in UK
According to new research by LemonAd, Internet advertising is getting a big boost by online gambling campaigns in the U.K.
LemonAd's research found a 101 percent increase over the past year in the number of advertisers in the online gambling category and a 107 percent increase in the number of campaigns over the same time last year. Marketing products and services on gambling sites also notched a big jump, with a 151 percent increase in the last year.
The study also suggested the main catalyst behind the fast growth of this sector was the abolition of the betting tax in the United Kingdom last October. Since then, competition has become even fiercer among the online casinos and bookmakers.
Another interesting finding of the research showed Casino On Net as the most prolific advertiser, running 26 campaigns in the month of February 2002 alone--twice as many as February 2001 and more than triple the number of campaigns run by the runner up, Ladbrokes.
Korean Government Earmarks Funds for Online Gaming
The Korean Ministry of Information and Communication recently announced it has earmarked $14 million to directly invest in the nation's emergent Internet gaming industry.
Most of the funds are set to be spent developing Internet gaming technologies including 3-D games, with the rest of the funds being allocated to train online game specialists, combat addiction and develop industry regulatory support. Korea is already near the top of the world's online games software and service providers and developers.
Last year, research firm Ipsos-Reid predicted that by 2002, eight of 10 Korean Internet users between the ages of 12 and 24, would have tried online games at least once.
Swedes Top the List of Online Shoppers in Europe
Research from Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and reported on by eMarketer has shown that Swedish Internet users are the most prolific Internet shoppers in Europe.
With 27 percent of Internet users in Sweden making purchases online, they beat out Norway at 26 percent, the U.K. with 22 percent, 21 percent in Germany, 18 percent in the Netherlands and 15 percent in Finland.
On the opposite end of the scale, less than 10 percent of Internet users in France, Spain, and Italy make online purchases.
The Dutch and Finnish Internet users tend to be more window-shoppers with 28 percent of users indicating they generally are "just looking" while surfing.
Remote Live Wagering Could Mean Big Bucks in Atlantic City
An independent report released by Pollock Gaming Resource Group (PGRG)and commissioned by i2corp.com (OTCBB: ITOO) suggests not only increased revenue for casinos with the legalization and implementation of live wagering from remote locations, but the technology would also further Atlantic City's goals for redevelopment and community growth.
PGRG estimates that the effects of live wagering from remote locations could result in gaming revenues increasing up to US$1.1 billion and between 443 to 2,631 full-time jobs created by increased visitation to Atlantic City brought on by the advent of live wagering technology.
Says Michael Pollock of PGRG, "The study concludes that live wagering from remote locations does more than create a new source of revenue for sponsoring casinos. Additionally, it creates a marketing opportunity, a means to find and cultivate thousands of new customers who can be encouraged to become on-site patrons."