Online poker choots up

Online poker industry shows constant growth Since its inception two years ago, online poker activity has seen a huge rise in its popularity. The UK poker industry has grown from an initial $100,000 per day in January 2002 to between $2 million and $2.5 million. According to PokerPulse.com statistics, online poker industry has more than tripled in the past year unlike other online gaming activities showing weak growth. UK Register reported that the top UK online poker operators are earning around $200 million per year, while an impressive amount of $16 billion (estimated) was wagered at online poker sites in the last year alone. A big number of gaming companies have recently entered the poker market, particularly in the UK. There are now some 300 web sites, about 20 networks or stand-alone rooms, and there are many more commercial and gaming brands planning to launch a poker room. Some wagering companies fuelled their profits with the extension of their business through the purchase of poker operators. Sporting Bet bought one of the four largest poker companies Paradise Poker for $297million in October 2004. In recent months, Paradise Poker has brought its revenue to over $7 million and now it is boasts about 721,000+ registered customers and 97,000+ active players. The poker gaming market is still far from saturation and it can hold a large number of branded poker rooms. However, a very small percentage of British people who indulge in online poker gaming, are a major factor restraining the further growth of poker industry. This number of online poker players is expected considered to grow in the UK, although predictably not at the same rate as it did in the past year. However, online poker is just starting to take hold in continental Europe. At present British players make up about 80 percent of the European market. 30 to 40 per cent of them are female players compared to only five per cent of females who play offline. Therefore, apart from other markets such as the Far East, the rest of Europe is only now beginning to open up. Another important factor behind the poker industry growth is online and offline poker tournaments. Such events draw millions of newcomers, who cherish a dream to win lumpsum playing poker. The increase of poker rookies will substantially boost the entire poker gaming market. Their money will result in larger prize pools provided by poker championships and will make the competition even more attractive to new gamblers.