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added on 2010-09-14 04:08:07
The latest Nielsen study has shown that UK online gambling has seen a 40 percent rise in popularity over the past year. The study proved 3.2 million people have logged on to online gambling websites last year, compared with only 2.2 more people who accessed social networking websites.
The same study of the independent media measurement company showed online players prefer online poker websites. Online poker operators such as PartyPoker.com, have seen an extra 870,000 visitors last year, which increased their popularity by 174 percent, while another poker website – PartyCasino.com, grew by 360 percent.
"The over-65s and those on lower household incomes have historically been heavy users of gambling sites, but in the face of the recession this profile is changing. While the phenomenal growth in gambling sites over the last two years has been driven by men and women of all ages, it appears to be powered particularly by middle-aged men, the well-educated and high-earning households," said Neil Beston, of Nielsen Group.
"The internet is readily available, it's 24/7 and it's right in the heart of a home. The vulnerable groups are those who are less risk-averse - young people and women, and no one knows if you're drunk," said Adrian Scarfe, the GamCare gambling charity's clinical training director.
The Nielsen' study concluded almost half of the online players win at least £30,000 per year and that women represent 46 percent of online gamblers. Most of the UK Internet players wager on the National Lottery.
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