For the past year, online gambling websites experienced a huge boost, as the global recession caused people all over the world to seek out more home-based forms of entertainment. This resulted in a large number of people staying home; renting movies rather than going to the cinema, cooking at home rather than eating out and gambling online rather than going to land-based casinos. While this has saved former casino patrons a great deal of money, a recent survey has revealed that online gambling is also contributing to the distress of land-based casinos.
According to Mintel, a media intelligence group, the number of patrons who attended and based casinos last year was 5% less than the statistic in 2001. In 2009, only 30% of adults had gambled in a land-based casino. Although the shift has been gradual, it has affected the land-based casino industry in a big way. When gambling capitals like Las Vegas can make upwards of $5 billion in one year, a 5% decline is a very detrimental loss.
The report also revealed that players who still gamble at land-based casino choose to make their wagers at gambling venues located on Native reserves, as gambling capitals like Niagara Falls and Las Vegas are the second most popular place for gambling fans to spend their money. With players opting to visit less luxurious casinos, it indicates that the recession, in addition to online gambling, still has a large effect on the land-based gambling industry.
