New studies from Juniper Research conclude that gambling and adult
content have the potential to generate revenues in excess of $6.5
billion by 2006, provided the right operating conditions are set by
the industry, regulators and partners.
Wagering on internet poker alone has risen to an average of more
than $50 million per day, according to PokerPulse.com. And UK-based
Juniper's research suggests that the mobile industry could follow
suit.
Paul Skeldon, Senior Analyst at Juniper, said:
"A high demand from mobile users for adult
content, and simple lottery type gambling services, is almost
without doubt. The big issue now facing the sector is regulation,
and its implementation across the world. Our assessment is that the
services that are given a green-light will generate good revenues
(in certain regions), but these will be limited. Regulated
lotteries and betting services will be the big winners."
Safety, security and child protection must be the first
priority, says Juniper, to lay the foundations for future growth.
It also recognises that trustworthy and reliable payment systems
must be in place, providing two-way commercial transactions (micro
and macro payments for services, and the return of gambling
winnings).
The firm also calls for careful management of operator and
service provider brand protection, and public perception, to
distance the content provider and operator.
Juniper reckons that adult content will generate around $790m in
revenues by 2006, with over half of this derived from video
content. But gambling is put at a massive $5.7 billion, divided
into casions ($0.9 billion), lotteries/competitions ($2.8 billion),
and betting ($2 billion).
The introduction of peer to peer betting at sports events, says the
firm, will be the one to watch, as will the adoption of lottery and
TV linked competitions to the mobile.
