16/12/2010, Casinos

PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the world's largest providers of assurance, tax and business consulting services, headquartered in London, UK, has recently released a report on the “Global casino and online gaming market to 2014”. The report looks at the trends in both the land-based casinos and online gaming world in the following years, which will be dominated by large and prestigious gaming developments.

Bricks-and-mortal casinos and the online gaming industries have faced financial difficulties and dramatic declines in revenues lately because of the global recession, but PricewaterhouseCoopers' analysts think that the next following years are all about rebuilding. Their study finds that the gaming industry in 2014 will be quite similar to today's market, characterized by large developments.

“The gaming industry is facing an evolution, which presents both challenges and opportunities for the industry’s established players and those considering to enter the market,” said Mary Lynn Palenik, director, gaming, entertainment, media & communications practice, PwC US.
“The explosion of entertainment choices for consumers will make it vital for the industry to produce an offering and experience that consumers want to spend money on.”

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the US is expected to become the biggest regional gaming market in 2014, accounting for 44% of all global revenues, compared to 40% in Asia Pacific. The US gaming revenues are expected to increase from $57.2 billion in 2009, to $68.3 billion in 2014, which represents a 3.6% compound annual increase, compared to Asia Pacific's increase of up to 62.9 billion in 2014 from $21.8 billion in 2009.

According to PwC's study, more governments will continue to licence, regulate and tax online gaming between providers and players within their borders, but without allowing cross-border activity until 2012-2013.