British women are spending increasing amounts of time betting online, with a new report by research company, YouGov, revealing that between 30-40% of internet gamblers in the UK are female.
The report also states that, since 2003, the number of Britons betting online has risen a staggering 566%, with almost 80% of Europe’s online players being British.
The new figures were collated by website 888.com, owned by Cassava Enterprises, a Gibraltar based firm and one of two online gambling companies looking to list on the London Stock Exchange. Analysts calculate that PartyGaming, owner of the Party Poker online gaming company and the other company considering an initial public offering, could list with a valuation of more than £3 billion.
Online gambling firm, 888.com revealed that, in a year, it had increased its membership from 10 million to 13 million across 151 countries, attributing this growth to female subscribers.
In the early 1990s women made up only 4% of all gamblers, now 20% of all British women visit a casino more than once a year, according to 888.com’s findings. The popularity of online gaming been escalating, driven by the large number of people playing poker online.
Research published by Informa Media Group in 2002, forecast that electronic gambling revenues will reach $14.5 billion by 2006, with 55% of online betting revenues coming from fixed line internet, 41% from interactive TV gambling and 4% from mobile betting(see Global E-gambling Will Be Worth $14.5 billion By 2006, Says Informa).
The surge in female participants in online gambling is echoed in a study by DFC Intelligence revealing that for many services, 50% of users are adult females(see Online Gaming Industry Reaches The Masses).
Predictions for the gaming industry indicate expectations that it will generate revenues of $9.8 billion, as broadband penetration continues at an exceptional rate, with the UK adding 7,620,000 lines during quarter 3 2004, giving a total of 5.1 million lines, according to broadband analysis company Point Topic(see Worldwide Broadband Lines Exceed 150 Million).
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