July 28, 2009 (CAP Newswire) — In a press release issued yesterday, media research firm 77Agency Ltd has stated that Internet poker, bingo, and skill games are “flying in the UK and Italy”, with the United States holding the potential to surge to the top if the industry can overcome the strict governmental environment there.
Up to 1 million U.K. adults are expected to play online poker this year, reported the press release. And in Italy, online gambling has become an 850 million Euro business since the recent easing of regulations.
Other notable findings in the report:
• More than 400,000 Facebook users in the United Kingdom list bingo or poker among their interests
• In Italy, the value of online and offline bets rose 10.8% since last year, for a total of 26 billion Euros
• “Global Betting and Gaming Consultants estimate that in 2009 online poker will grow 10.8% year on year, to $3.9 billion in gross gambling yield. Europe is forecast to grow 15.5% to $1.82 billion.”
In other words: Casino affiliates and poker affiliates in Western Europe, you know where to go!