Online Gamblers Doubled in 2005 According to Study

The number of Americans who gambled online doubled to about 4 percent of the population last year, as people were lured by its convenience, an industry group report released on Monday said.The survey was part of a broader study by the American Gaming Association (AGA), which also said that gambling revenue at U.S. casinos rose 5 percent last year, to a record $30.3 billion, as more visitors flocked to a growing number of casinos in states such as Nevada.

The gaming revenue reflects strong growth from companies like Harrah's Entertainment Inc. (HET.N) and MGM Mirage Inc. (MGM.N), which are riding a surge in interest in gambling and the growing popularity of Las Vegas and Atlantic City as tourist destinations."This is proof there is still room for growth," AGA Chief Executive Frank Fahrenkopf said on a conference call after the release of the AGA's 2006 "State of the States" report.The report said more Americans were also turning to the Internet to gamble as they found it convenient, despite confusion about the legality of online betting.

May 8, 2006
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!