Mobile gambling

Mobile gambling refers to playing games of chance or skill for money by using a remote device such as a tablet computer, smartphone or a mobile phone with a wireless internet connection. Over a dozen mobile casinos are operating as of March 2011.

Market

In 2005, Jupiter Research forecast that global mobile gambling services would generate revenues of more than $19.3 billion US dollars by 2009^[1]. In 2010, Gartner analysts showed the 2009 global mobile gambling revenues at $4.7 billion and forecast $5.6 billion for 2010^[2]. Such a large discrepancy between the 2005 forecast and the 2009 reality is attributed to the unexpected 2006 US prohibition of all internet based gambling.

The mobile gambling market, as of 2011 is still in flux. The European Union still does not have a unified mobile gambling legislative framework in place. Each European country has their own set of widely different laws which regulate mobile gambling ranging from Finland where a government monopoly operates internet casinos to Norway which is in favor of complete prohibition of online gambling.

Market projections

According to a Juniper Research report^[3] released in September 2010 the total sum wagered on mobile casino games is expected to surpass $48 billion US dollars by 2015. The report bases this prediction on (1) the high growth rates of mobile casinos, lotteries and sports betting providers in major emerging markets and China; (2) liberalization of mobile gambling legislation in Europe; (3) United States repealing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, permitting people in the US to legally gamble online again.^[3]

A 2010 Gartner forecast sees 2014 global mobile gambling revenues reach $11.4 billion dollars.^[2]

Mobile casino games

According to a February 2010 comScore MobiLens study^[4] of the U.S. mobile gaming market, smartphone subscribers are much more likely to play mobile casino games than subscribers of generic phones. The study revealed that 7.6% of smartphone subscribers and 1.2% of generic mobile subscribers played mobile casino games within a three month time frame.^[4]

As of March 2011, there is a total of approximately 100 casino style mobile games which permit the use of real money:^{[citation needed]}

Mobile Gambling Software Developer	Number of games	Game Types	Mobile OS
IGT	14	Slots	---
inTouch Games	11	Bingo, Roulette, Slots, Blackjack, Video Poker	---
Alchemybet Ltd	20	Bingo, Scratch Cards, Roulette, Slots, Blackjack, Video Poker	---
Neo Games	10	Virtual Scratch Tickets, Slots	---
Play'n GO	20	Video Slots, Blackjack, Slots, Roulette, Video Poker, Baccarat	---
Playtech	14	Arcade, Bingo, Baccarat, Blackjack, Keno, Slots, Roulette, Video Poker	---
Probability	25	Arcade, Bingo, Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, Slots	---
Slotland	15	Slots, Video Poker	---
Spin 3	21	Arcade, Bingo, Baccarat, Blackjack, Keno, Slots, Roulette, Video Poker	---
ThePhoneCasino	4	Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, Slots	---

References

1. ^ Hanman, Natalie (10 February 2005). "Placing a bet on the mobile". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2005/feb/10/mobilephones.onlinesupplement. Retrieved 22 March 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Gartner Says Worldwide Mobile Gaming Revenue to Grow 19 Percent in 2010" (Press release). Gartner. 17 May 2010. http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1370213. Retrieved 22 March 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Mobile Gambling Wagers to Surpass $48bn by 2015" (Press release). Juniper Research. 2 September 2010. http://www.juniperresearch.com/viewpressrelease.php?pr=204. Retrieved 22 March 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Smartphone Adoption Shifting Dynamics of U.S. Mobile Gaming Market" (Press release). comScore Inc.. 14 April 2010. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/4/Smartphone_Adoption_Shifting_Dynamics_of_U.S._Mobile_Gaming_Market. Retrieved 22 March 2011.