CHICAGO-Federal gambling regulations won’t prevent wireless wagering from becoming a $3 billion industry by 2009, according to a new report from consultant firm Mintel International.
Already a popular application among users in some Asian and European markets, mobile gambling “is increasing its stake in the U.S. at a rapid rate,” Mintel said Thursday. The firm said wireless betting revenues will equate to more than 4 percent of projected U.S. casino gambling revenues in 2009.
While federal anti-gambling laws forbid the use of wireless devices for interstate wagering, legal types of mobile gambling seem to be slowly gaining ground. Using a phone to bet on games of skill is legal, for instance, and Nevada recently passed a law allowing gamblers to play video poker and other games on handsets from public areas in casinos.
“Mobile gambling is driven by the same sort of innovation that is growing ringtone downloads and mobile movie previews,” said Erik Thoresen, a Mintel research analyst. “Many Americans are turning to their phones for entertainment.”
