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February 23, 2007 |
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| Survey says | |||
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Stop someone on the street and ask them
to visualize the typical online gambler and chances are they conjure
an image of a young, socially awkward man locked away in his bedroom
at his parent’s house, hunched for hours over a computer screen and
betting large sums of money he can ill afford to lose.
Reality, however, is far different from this depressing perception. To start, the typical visitor to an online casino site is female. Instead of being someone who is young, the average age range of an online casino gambler is 46-55 years. This person also knows there limits—on average playing only two to three times a weeks for one or two hours at the most and wagering only £30-£60 per session (£1 =US$1.95). These are just some of the facts revealed in the recently released “Global Online Gambler Report,” a survey of nearly 11,000 online bettors commissioned by eCOGRA, a UK-based independent standards authority for the online gambling industry. The 130 page report, which was performed by Nottingham Trent University and focused on the attitudes and behaviors of Internet casino and poker players, surveyed 10,865 people from 96 countries and 37 employment sectors from September to October 2006. Fifteen focus groups were also held in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Sweden in November 2006. “We would all agree that the online gambling industry has grown dramatically in the four years since eCOGRA was formed. This report was commissioned to help us better understand the characteristics of players, their attitudes and behaviors--demographically and habitually, as well as to enable us to capture the opinions and concerns of the playing community across a range of topics,” said eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge in a prepared statement. “The survey, expertly undertaken by the team at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), captured feedback from an unprecedented number of players. In the early stages of discussions with NTU, it became clear that there was a lack of robust and independent research into the more general behavior and attitudes of online gamblers--a gap that we feel this research has filled.” “All those with an interest in this industry would do well to consider this report, for it offers an insight into an industry in flux and a player base that is evolving away from wanting just the thrill of the chase into a more rounded entertainment experience,” Beveridge added. Indeed, in addition to the profile of the online casino player, the “Global Online Gambler Report” also provides a sketch of the typical online poker player and their wants and needs. Unlike online casino patrons, Internet poker players tend to be males aged 26-35 years. That difference aside, the online poker player differs little in standard behavior from the online casino enthusiast—they tend to only play poker two to three times a week for one or two hours at the most. Their wagering also tends to be conservative—normally participating in low-stake games with US$0.50-US$2.00 minimum bets and betting only 6-10 percent of their bankroll at any one time. Both types of gambler also see value in sites offering responsible gaming features and increased governmental regulation. The finalized version of the report will be completed and made available later this year. To view a PDF of the media summary of the survey, visit www.ecogra.org. —Paul Doocey |
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