London (PRWEB) January 21, 2011

The on the internet gambling business has reached its full stature – as have its long-standing enterprise drivers: betting, poker, and casino games. Consequently, a lot of operators are now searching for new income streams. Following years of focusing on heavy gamblers, the sector is now concentrating on casual players and turns a hopeful gaze on social networks, on-line lotteries, bingo, and other individuals. Due to the fact of the developing require for in-depth data about these segments, the consulting firm MECN has now published its new second edition of the report “Casual Gaming and Gambling on the Web”.

Online casual gaming and gambling have been about for some time but have normally kept a low profile. Now this is about to change, and the sector is increasingly searching at the casual sectors as new growth regions:

Current heavy investments by PartyGaming, 888, Playtech, … in the on the internet bingo industry indicate the casual segment’s expanding importance.
Social gaming delivers, such as Zynga Poker, are at present dominating the strategic discussions in the on-line gambling sector.
Casual players are the major income-producing segment in liberalised markets such as France and Italy.
Fantasy sports and ability gaming are much more and far more utilized as strategic entryways into markets with legal restrictions (e.g., U.S.).
Online lotto/numbers games have moved into the spotlight as remaining “untouched” sectors they are estimated to be worth USD 5.five billion in gross revenues by 2015.

85% of gambling operators program to boost their efforts in social networks

The success of social gaming/poker came far more or less over night and took conventional on-line gambling operators by surprise. As 888′s CEO Gigi Levy place it: “The market had a blind spot”. For instance, Zynga Poker has now far more than 36 million active users per month and has amongst 200,000 and 400,000 on-line players at any time – significantly much more than top poker rooms.

Even so, the on the web gambling business is striking back and is launching its personal social gambling delivers. The rapidity and determination with which this is happening comes as a bit of a surprise: 85% of all operators surveyed expressed their intention to enhance their efforts in social networks/gaming in the next two-3 years.

Gross revenues of on the internet numbers games estimated to grow to USD 5.5 billion by 2015

So far, the on the internet lotto/numbers games sector has been playing only a minor role in the public discussion – wrongly so, in our opinion. The on the web lotto/numbers game marketplace is still dominated by state operators, but this could adjust quite soon, as co-author Martin Oelbermann explains: “Large private operators will soon uncover on the internet lotto and numbers games. What started in 2009 with hefty investments in bingo will spread to lotto and numbers games – perhaps already in 2011″.

Gross revenues in the numbers game (retail and Web) market place come to around USD 100 billion, and the segment is still largely dominated by retail-focused state lotteries. But, the Net will inexorably advance and shape this sector also. According to MECN’s estimates, total sales of World wide web lotto/numbers games (lotto, keno, scratch/instant) amounted to about USD 1.9 billion in 2010 and will grow to USD 5.five billion by 2015.

Clearly, the race is on to seize the USD 5.5 billion jackpot. Will state lotteries dominate the field, or can off-shore operators repeat the good results that produced them dominant the on-line sports betting industry? How swiftly private operators enter the lotto/numbers marketplace will most likely rely on how quickly the classic sectors shed their growth possible. Martin Oelbermann adds, “The race to win over casual gamblers is surely on, and lotto/numbers games will play a crucial function in this race. As a result, state lotteries and NGO operators really should commence getting ready if they do not want to shed their final stronghold”.

MECN’s new report: Casual Gaming and Gambling on the Internet – 2nd edition

The report provides analyses of the most related sectors in the casual gaming and gambling market – social gaming, bingo, skill gaming, lotto and numbers games, fantasy sports, …. It closely examines business models, income sources, accomplishment elements, industry outlook, recommendations, …

The report also consists of exclusive insights MECN gathered from a survey of ca. 40 market insiders and operators.

The study can be obtained at http://www.casual-gaming.mecn.net

About MECN

MECN is a network of specialists on problems regarding the media and entertainment industry. Together they give in-depth information, evaluation, and guidance to worldwide customers.

Get in touch with: Martin Oelbermann, Tel: +49 ()89 3835 6785, e-mail:pr(at)mecn(dot)net

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