Internet Gambling Approaches Tenth Anniversary

UNITED STATES – As reported by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: "…Next year will mark the 10-year anniversary of online casinos. More than 5 million Americans have accounts with Internet gambling sites, according to a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

"In 2005, the number of Web gamblers in the United States will reach about 7.4 million, according to the gambling analysts River City Group, which is based in St. Louis.

"And it appears that more people are "staying home" in the Midwest than in other parts of the country. CasinoFortune.com, one of the oldest online casinos, said its highest concentration of players - more than 420,000 - is spread among Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Ohio.

"The GAO reported recently that 2003 online gambling revenue was more than $4 billion.

"…Many Internet gamblers enjoy the same types of VIP treatment they'd get in land-based casinos. On CasinoFortune.com, customer care representatives regularly call high rollers at their homes, in much the same way land-based casino reps visit the hotel suites of guests, to ask what the site can do to make their Web visit more pleasant.

"…Most sites offer the same variety of games found in land-based casinos - poker, blackjack, slots, craps, and roulette. In the gambling-but-not-gaming arena, sports book sites offer racing, bingo and general sporting-event betting, said Mark Balestra, vice president of publishing for River City Group.

"…The stereotypes that land-based casinos carry don't often picture women as hard-core gamblers, but according to River City Group, 68% of online gamblers are women.

"Love it or hate it, [Cory Aronovitz, founder of the Chicago-based Casino Law Group] said, as technology improves, online gambling will only grow in scope and complexity. But contrary to stereotypical fears about technology, he said, Web casinos will never overtake land-based casinos, because land-based casinos have more non-gaming amenities to offer.

"Future Web technology, however, probably will foster live interaction between land- and Web-based casinos, Aronovitz said.

"The new technology will allow Web casinos to adjust the types of games and game themes they offer to match, in real-time, conventions and major events taking place in gambling meccas such as Las Vegas…"