Casino City's iGaming Pocket Directory - 2013 Edition

Sponsored by MOBILE GAMING 59 Visit iGamingPocketDirectory.com for more information. The massive global growth in smart phones and tablets is one of the most important technological innovations in the online gaming industry in the last five years – even though it actually has nothing to with the mechanics of gambling. Unlike fast fold poker, in-play betting in sports and live dealer technology, mobile devices don’t change how a consumer interacts with a casino. But they are changing how players consume gaming content. And this isn’t an issue just for the future. Consider this: In December 2012, a 28-year- old East Londoner won £341,259 playing Leprechaun’s Luck on his phone at a William Hill property. Not every consumer has a smartphone or tablet. According to Strategy Analytics, which tracks the smartphone market, the number of smartphones in use surpassed the 1 billion mark in the third quarter of 2012. And according to the International Telecommunications union, there are 6 billion mobile subscriptions in use. That means smartphones account for about 17 percent of the market. And that market is growing. Some analysts are predicting annual growth rates as high 39 percent. MOBILE GAMING INDUSTRY OVERVIEW