 The growing
allure of online casinos and poker
According to a special report by the BBC News,
the allure of online casinos and poker is growing even more in
recent months.
The media channel profiled a twenty six year old online casinos
poker player, Paul, who traes currency by day and comes home to
visit online casinos by night, after working hectic days in his
London offices.
Online casinos, as a hobby, are growing very quickly in the
United Kingdom and is one of the fastest ways to gamble.
Paul discussed online casinos and said, "I've always loved card
games, and played things like whist when I was younger," he
explained as colleagues shouted euro prices in the background.
"I don't find it stressful, it's just a bit of fun."
The British - supposed champions of the underdog and defenders
of the fair fight - have always loved to gamble – and online
casinos provide this opportunity.
The online casinos industry is a $12 Billion dollar a year
venture, and thousands of online casinos are crowding the
marketplace looking to attract new players and retain current
consumers. Online casinos employ special promotion strategies,
bonuses, and other deals to excite interest in fans.
Now Brits are visiting online casinos in increasing numbers and
companies are looking to cash in.
Top online casinos specialize in poker, and a few British online
casinos are even on the London Stock Exchange. Many online
casinos are based in Gibraltar or other off shore tax havens,
however.
So what is it that makes the pastime so attractive and why has
the value of the global market more than tripled in size to
close to $1.5bn (£827m) over the past two years?
One reason is that poker is seen as a game of skill rather than
luck, where one player is pitted against another and as Paul
puts it, "the cream always rises to the top".
Another is the spread of the internet and our increasing
confidence in the safety of online casinos and e-commerce.
On top of that, gambling is becoming an increasingly hip and
accessible means of entertainment - just look at the resurgence
of Las Vegas in the US and plans to build massive casino
complexes in the UK.
Bookmakers no longer have blacked out windows, the lottery and
its multi-millionaire winners are part of everyday life, fruit
machines are in pubs and chip shops across the country.
According to research group Forrester, 76% of the UK's 29
million adult internet users admit to regularly placing a bet
either online or offline.
Is it addictive?
Previously, there was always a chance that your gambling urge
would come at a time when there was nowhere open to place a bet.
Now "it's a problem 24-7", said Adrian Scarfe, clinical practice
manager at gambling addiction counseling and advice service
Gamcare.
As more and more Brits are drawn to the allure that is online
poker and internet gambling, addiction may be on the rise. But
the excitement remains.
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