According to GBGC (Global Betting & Gaming Consultants), the online gambling industry is set to grow from US $345bn in 2007 to US $433bn through 2012. GBGC’s Chief Executive, Warwick Bartlett, stated that times will be tough but the market will grow.

Bartlett feels that the UK has missed out onward many valuable opportunities to obtain more a global port. He feels that the gambler is better off playing within the UK due to the integrity of the providers, companionable responsibility and the value offered.

“The slowdown in the USA will hit the pockets of Americans and Las Vegas will feel of the effect of that along with high energy costs and a transportation regularity reliant without ceasing road and air. The US has not invested sufficiently in high speed rail and destination resorts going forward will suffer as the cost of carbon-based fuels continues to be some issue of cost and supply,” he said.

“The bookmakers in October 2001 did a deal with the then Chancellor Gordon Brown to repatriate their internet gaming sites back to the UK in exchange for betting to be taxed on bookmakers’ big profits. For five years it has worked well but things being so the bookmakers are losing market share to offshore operators and the command needs to re-think its military science. The offshore bookmakers are now investing the tax saving in marketing and scooping up the employment. The in every one’s mouth ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ is not sustainable in my view,” said Bartlett. “The UK is wanting the opportunity to create jobs, wealth, and taxation in a sustainable industry.” “Change is steady the Cards” points to an expanding market across Europe as governments come to terms with rulings from the European Courts of Justice that gamblers should have the same choice and value as shoppers. In Asia, the consultancy is optimistic about the prospects for the two mega casinos in Singapore with the possible for the second largest gambling nation, Japan, to have a legitimate casino within 5 years.

The current economic downturn with high energy costs, cheap broadband internet connection and a smoking ban in all licensed premises in most countries of the world is creating a exquisite storm for internet gaming.

“People are leaving their cars in the garage, playing online bingo or watching a match without ceasing TV and placing a bet from the comfort of an armchair,” said Bartlett.

“The land based businesses are going to catch it hard to compete with the value on the internet and with as much as 30% of gambling revenue now leaving the UK and going offshore the government should take note.” Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC) are based in the Isle of Man. We are a specialist consultancy that concentrates on the gambling industry. Change is on the Cards is the fourth edition of the singular Global Gambling Report. Over a 1,000 pages of decomposition on each legalized gambling jurisdiction. GBGC have appeared on most greater TV networks and been quoted by The Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Forbes and Wall Street Journal.