10million US Poker players despite UIEGA ban

Despite US restrictions, America still remains as the largest online poker market.

Market research company, Poker players research (PPR) has found that despite the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) which banned online gambling back in 2006, there are still over 10million real money poker player in the USA. This figure shows more than 5 times the amount of players in the UK, the second largest market in the world with 1.9million poker fans.

Germany came in third from the research, with a market size of 1.6million which was slightly ahead of France who has 1.3 million players. Scandinavia’s mature market has just 1.4 million real money players.

PokerStars and Full Tilt have taken more than half of the market share as they stayed in the US throughout the legislative struggles, at the expense of those who pulled out after the UIEGA was passed. Operators that pulled out include PartyGaming, the new owners of Cashcade, who settled with authorities for $105m in April.

PartyGaming took a calculated risk by settling with the authorities, so that it may be able to re-enter the market if efforts to regulate the American online gambling industry succeeds. However operators 888 haven’t shown any signs of moving towards a settlement with the US Department of Justice.

Poker News Media Website Network

Poker News Media

Casino News Media

Media Man Australia