At the turn of the century, the Internet boom was already well in full swing. The first ten years has seen unrivalled technological development, seemingly exponential as each new discovery would herald a hundred more. The world of online bingo is no different, having seen complete evolution from traditional bingo halls to the modern versions of the game which offer much more than just 75- or 90-ball bingo. However, it has not always seemed so rosy for the gaming industry - particularly in the United States - which has now developed into one of the most important sectors in online business.
When Christiansen Capital Advisors, a New York and New Gloucester-based company providing gambling and entertainment analysis, was commissioned by the United States government to investigate the potential impact of online gambling at the dawn of the new millennium, the results were portentous. Sebastian Sinclair, Vice President of CCA, issued the following statement: “Federal legislation will make it difficult but not impossible for Internet gamblers in the U.S. to gain access to offshore sites. Ultimately, Internet gambling operators are selling a product. The vast majority of customers will satisfy their demand for commercial gambling through less onerous and risky alternatives, such as lotteries, bingo, pari-mutuels and casinos.”
Sinclair appeared to be voicing what the majority of United States business commentators were thinking, namely that while there was little the federal government could do to completely eradicate online gambling in the United States, but that the issue was unlikely to devolve into gambling problems, en masse. Similarly, he believed that “less onerous and risky alternatives” would attract the majority of law-abiding citizens who merely wished for opportunities to win big prizes in a social sphere online – heralded on these shores as the factor in the success of online bingo.
While online bingo in the United States still suffers from incomplete legality (perhaps bizarrely when compared to online poker, which is completely illegal) in that it is illegal in some states but not others. In Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin it is still illegal to play online bingo, whilst in other states the law has focussed on the act of withdrawing funds from banks directly to online bingo sites.
The United Kingdom has not suffered from such restrictions, as a recent study revealed that the online bingo industry in the UK is worth $1.3billion each year. Although the economic downturn did slow growth in 2008 and 2009, the recent news that Britain has emerged from the recession is set to further boost an industry that enjoys remarkable success. The competition for customers has meant an increased scramble for prizes and promotions, as bingo providers seek to out-do each other on both fronts, having a knock-on beneficial effect for the consumer.
As the online gaming industry has doubled its worldwide revenue in the last three years, the United States is still debating the potential threat to social health. The continuing popularity of online gambling, at home and abroad, seems to indicate that they should not let the debate rumble on too long, lest they be left completely behind.
