A new report from Juniper Research has forecast that annual wagering via mobile handsets and tablets on casino-type gambling and poker games will reach $62bn globally by 2018.
The 2018 total would represent a six-fold increase on the $10bn staked in 2013. According to the report, regulation of the previously untapped US market is likely to be key to growth.
The report, titled Mobile Gambling: Casinos, Lotteries & Betting 2013-2018, asserts that service providers entering the US market will be required to optimise gambling solutions for mobile users from the outset.
The report found that the success of free-to-play casino games – despite not being in direct competition to real-money gambling providers - has also been crucial to the development of sophisticated mobile casino solutions.
Juniper also found “little evidence” that lotteries were keen to expand to mobile. Report author Siân Rowlands said: “Lack of competition in the lottery space has meant that there has been little incentive to innovate.
“Realistically, only if retail outlet ticket sales slump will providers be incentivised to push distribution through online and mobile channels.”
The full report is available via the Juniper Research website.
