Internet Mobile Gambling Rises

According to analysts the mobile internet gaming industry is still in its infancy, the market is set to grow exponentially within the next four years.

To date this segment of the market has seen slow development ascribed mainly to the uncertainties about future gambling regulations currently facing internet gambling operators. Many online casinos are venturing into this segment of the market adding mobile platforms to their casino base as well.

“Director of H2 Gambling Capital a consulting and research firm based in London, Simon Holliday said, “we are aggressively exploiting the potential market that mobile devices might offer us”.  A fair amount of European companies have boosted their incomes by 15 percent this source, particularly those with iPhone, iPad or Android applications.”

American Wagering Inc. Is set to take the U.S the mobile market by storm, it introduced its first application for its Leroy’s Sports Book monopoly. On Wednesday, International Game Technology announced that it formed an internet and mobile division within the company.

“The Nevada Gaming Commission has just completed our wagering application,” said John English, senior vice president with Las Vegas-based American Wagering.  Players can access our games via their Blackberry for the time being.”

The company’s applications for Android and iPhones said that they are still in the testing phase and await regulatory approval.  Hopefully early next year these new applications would be released into the online gaming market.

In order to open a mobile gaming account, English said, the player needs to complete an application and bring two forms of identification to a Leroy’s location.   Upon completion of the application and its approval and players need to deposit the minimum amount of $50 into an account, in turn Leroy’s notify the players via text message with a link to download the application.

“This will work from anywhere within the state,” he said. “Players should not that it would only work in Nevada.  With state-wide coverage, players can start wagering at their own pace whenever they feel so. “

English was not at liberty to discuss any form of financial forecasts.  However, he feels that the mobile applications could potentially tap into a “large share” of the $2.5 billion handle at Leroy Sports Books.

“Integration of our internet and mobile business units under the IGT brand will cement our place as an innovative leader in interactive gaming,” said Gideon Bierer, IGT executive vice president and head of the interactive division.

The company’s WagerWorks and Million -2-1 groups will amalgamate into a division and the company’s head quarters will be in San Francisco.  Bierer said the last five years in the UK alone has seen the Las Vegas-based company handle more than $10 billion in internet casino wagers.”

“As technology improves and markets develop, we can’t wait to increase our product improvement and radically grow our interactive business,” he said. In a recent report, Juniper Research projected gross wagers via mobile gaming platforms will reach $48 billion worldwide, including $10 billion in North America, by 2015. Mobile gambling is restricted in the United States for the most part by federal gambling laws.

“In truth people will always like gambling,” said David G. Schwartz, director of UNLV’s Centre for Gaming Research. “Sports gambling is likely to benefit the most.  There has always been remote gambling going back to the unlawful horse rooms … to off-track betting introduced in the 1970s. This is the latest evolution in this.”

Sports betting is most likely to benefit from this new technology, Schwartz said games such as dice or blackjack may find it difficult to find a new player base. He said the reason is rather simple since “most gamblers enjoy the feel of dice in their hands.”