In the very early days of interactive gaming, there were only around 50 online gambling sites. Current predictions put the number of online gambling websites at approaching 2,500 by 2008 compared to some 250 in 1998 (Casino City / River City Group / DrKW Research Estimates / GBGC Analysis).
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| The Approximate Number of Global Commercial Online Gambling Websites |
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| Source: Casino City/River City Group/DrKW Research Estimates/GBGC Analysis |
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| In line with this growth, the Gross Gambling Turnover (GGT) for interactive gambling rose to $90bn in 2004, an increase of $20bn on the figures for the previous year. Current predictions estimate GGT at over $200bn by the middle of 2008. |
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| Global Interactive Gross Gambling Turnover (GGT) 1998 to 2012E |
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| Source: GBGC Analysis |
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| Most market commentary on the size of the online gaming market however uses Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) - turnover less the amount paid out to players as winnings - as a standard benchmark for growth. The chart below demonstrates the rapid overall growth of this measure. In 1998, GGY was well under $1bn for the global interactive market. Six years on in 2004, this figure had increased over ten-fold to in excess of $9bn. |
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| Global Interactive Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) 1998 to 2004 |
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| Source: GBGC Analysis |
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| In absolute terms interactive gaming’s GGY will increase from a predicted US$14.3bn in 2006 to US$23.10bn by 2012, with poker forecast to become the biggest single product on the Internet by 2008. (Global Betting & Gaming Consultants). |
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| Global Interactive Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) 1998 to 2012E |
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| Source: GBGC Analysis |
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| Online casinos currently account for over half of the interactive gambling market, while bookmakers and poker rooms make up 27 per cent and 12 per cent of the market respectively. |
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| Share of the Global Interactive Gambling Market by Product (February 2005 figures) |
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| Source: DrKW Equity research estimates/Global Betting and Gaming Consultants |
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| Poker is predicted to show the most rapid increase in GGY - rising from just under $0.5bn in 2003 to $5bn by 2007 and to over $7bn in 2012. Betting and lotteries on the other hand have seen a much steadier increase in GGY and are predicted to settle at around the $6bn and $4bn marks respectively in 2012. |
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| Online Poker Player Numbers July 2002 to April 2005 |
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