ONLINE GAMBLING IS ON A WINNING STREAK
New York, London - October 15, 2001 - With revenues from online gambling set
to grow from $6.6 billion in 2001 to $20.8 billion in 2005, Aspinalls.com
(www.aspinalls.com) - one of the world's great casino names - has teamed up
with Greenfield Online to release the first extensive research into online
consumer gambling habits.
Based on the responses of 1,000 experienced Internet users, the research
gives a clear insight into why analysts believe the number of online
gamblers in Europe and the US will grow from the current 2.9 million in 2001
to the predicted 7.4 million in 2005.
Conducted in late June 2001, the survey shows that just under two thirds of
the 1000 respondents (63%) had already visited an online gambling related
site - lottery, bingo, sports betting, casino - with 29% having specifically
visited an online casino in the last year.13% had wagered for real.
The study also revealed that online gambling is breaking down the gender
divide, with women feeling more confident playing table games in an online
environment. For example, the female to male divide of those who play
blackjack - the most popular table game - is 32% female to 68% male in
traditional casinos. By contrast, the female/male divide is evenly split
when it comes to playing blackjack online. Likewise, whilst slot machines
are the game of choice for women in bricks and mortar casinos - 88% of the
women who had visited offline casinos having played them - just 24% of
female online casino visitors had played their online equivalent according
to the research.
Russell Foreman, Chief Executive Officer of Aspinalls Online Plc, commented:
'Online gambling is a young industry, but one that has a huge potential for
growth. However, there is genuine unease amongst internet users about
visiting online casinos run by unrecognised operators. That is why we
believe Aspinalls.com, with its 40 year heritage and long established
reputation for trust, reliability and customer service, is excellently
positioned to succeed.'
According to the research, close to half of the 1000 respondents agreed that
they would prefer an online gambling site run by a well-known, traditional
casino - just 11% disagreeing. Likewise, 56% of those who had visited online
gambling sites were extremely concerned about the safety of using credit
cards or receiving their winnings online.
Russell Foreman:
'With over 14,000 online gambling sites operating on the web at any time,
the public is right to be concerned about security issues. Our advice is
simple - always check out the full credentials of any operator before
signing-up to them. And if there is any doubt - go elsewhere.'
The first online-only casino business to be publicly traded, Aspinalls.com
launched its first two online casinos - the London Casino and Caribbean
Casino - in June 2001.
About Aspinalls.com
Aspinall's is one of the most prestigious names in the world of casinos,
having held a casino licence in the UK for some 40 years. During that period
it has established a reputation built on trust and fairplay.
Founded by Damian Aspinall, Executive Chairman, and Russell Foreman, Chief
Executive Officer, Aspinalls.com is the first online gaming site to offer a
range of internationally themed casinos and a sophisticated loyalty
programme. Aspinalls.com is operated by Aspinalls Online plc, the first
online-only casino business to be publicly traded.
About Greenfield Online
Greenfield Online, Inc. is a pioneer and leading provider of
Internet-powered marketing research and real-time business information.
Incorporated in 1995, Greenfield Online is headquartered in Wilton, Conn.,
with an office in San Francisco and regional representatives in six other
U.S. cities and Mexico City.