There are many industries that can thank the internet for a renewed burst of popularity, and the gaming industry is among them. The gambling industry has never been more popular, helped in part by a rapidly expanding online fan base and the growth of Native American casino sites around the country. This combination, more than anything else, has helped the gaming industry roar into the twenty-first century with no signs of slowing.
The National Indian Gaming Commission or NIGC, lists over twenty states containing some type of Indian gaming. Although a recent phenomenon, Indian casinos have helped the incredible growth of the gambling industry as well as adding a much-needed legitimacy that has cleared the way for that growth. In fact, the tremendous expansion of Indian gaming has helped add a fresh perspective to traditional gambling powerhouses such as Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Both of these gaming metropolises have experienced an explosion of growth and popularity in recent years, owing to the expansion of gaming fever brought on by the influx of Indian casinos in the U.S.
The financial benefits of the gaming industry spread far beyond mere casino visits. According to the American Gaming Association, tax revenue received by state and local governments has been closing in on $10 billion annually in the past few years. Because of numbers like these, as well as a decline in the assumptions that casinos and other gambling facilities are breeding grounds for corruption and crime, the industry has been enjoying positive reactions of late. A recent report by the American Gaming Association says that casino gaming is viewed more favorably than ever before by voters across the political landscape.
This growth in popularity is not just confined to the U.S. As gambling locations around the world are experiencing their own increase in popularity. Gadling.com lists gaming locations in Macau, Singapore, Monaco, and Germany as among the most popular international gambling attractions.
Of course, no discussion of the recent explosion of gambling popularity would be complete without mention of the fastest growing segment of the industry: online gaming. As with many other businesses, the gambling industry has grown exponentially because of expanded Internet access. Forbes.com points out that the total worth of the worldwide online gambling market was $33 billion dollars in 2013 and all indications are that this number will only continue to rise.
All the excitement, competition and money incorporated in the brick and mortar casino experienced can now be found while sitting behind a computer. Gone are the days when computer gaming meant playing simple slots, roulette, or poker against an electronic opponent for credits that never translated into real money. Online players can now compete against one another in live gaming on a massive international level with millions in real cash payouts. According to Free-internet-gambling.org, players can place bets on traditional casino games such as roulette, blackjack, and video poker and can wager on sporting events taking place anywhere in the world.
As more states and countries relax previous restrictions on online gambling, there appear to be no limits in the popularity and expansion of the online gaming industry.