How many people gamble online?
In a report published on February 18, 2002 in USA Today, equity research firm Bear Stearns were quoted as claiming that about 4.5 million people, half of them U.S. residents, regularly gamble online. At a similar time, (PRNewswire 22 March 2001) claimed that approximately 8 million people had already gambled with real money online at that time. That’s a lot of online players at present, with indications pointing to large increases in the future, particularly from Europe and Asia. A survey conducted by 888.com in Britain in February 2005 revealed that the amount staked online by British players increased almost six-fold in the year since late 2003. Results of the same survey also revealed that almost 40% of British online players were women, representing a far greater proportion than in traditional ‘off-line’ gambling. Real growth on online wagering has been experienced recently in the area of online poker play. According to PokerPulse.com, a staggering $300 million is now bet daily at
