January 1,2004
www.pokermag.com
The popularity of playing poker online has rocketed in the past year.
The study, from bookmakers Ladbrokes, quotes figures showing the amount gambled on poker websites around the world increased from €8.5m a day in January last year to €53.9m in December.
There are thought to be around 150 poker rooms now operating on the Internet - up from 30 in 2002.
Players normally take part by first entering their credit or debit card numbers and then compete against other “virtual” players who could be anywhere around the world.
Ladbrokespoker.com, which claims to have 50,000 registered users, makes its money by taking a percentage of the stake gambled on each hand.
The popularity of on-line gambling has raised concern among some charities and organisations.
One source working with addicts said: “Of all the forms of internet gambling we have seen to date, poker could well be the biggest problem, partly because it was previously shrouded in secrecy.”
A spokesman for Ladbrokes said the company took the issue seriously and included on its poker website information about GamCare, a charity which addresses the social impact of gambling.
“Ladbrokes is a responsible operator and would never do anything to encourage problem gambling,” said the spokesman.
www.pokermag.com
The popularity of playing poker online has rocketed in the past year.
The study, from bookmakers Ladbrokes, quotes figures showing the amount gambled on poker websites around the world increased from €8.5m a day in January last year to €53.9m in December.
There are thought to be around 150 poker rooms now operating on the Internet - up from 30 in 2002.
Players normally take part by first entering their credit or debit card numbers and then compete against other “virtual” players who could be anywhere around the world.
Ladbrokespoker.com, which claims to have 50,000 registered users, makes its money by taking a percentage of the stake gambled on each hand.
The popularity of on-line gambling has raised concern among some charities and organisations.
One source working with addicts said: “Of all the forms of internet gambling we have seen to date, poker could well be the biggest problem, partly because it was previously shrouded in secrecy.”
A spokesman for Ladbrokes said the company took the issue seriously and included on its poker website information about GamCare, a charity which addresses the social impact of gambling.
“Ladbrokes is a responsible operator and would never do anything to encourage problem gambling,” said the spokesman.