A rapid expansion in mobile content, allied to a sharp increase in 2.5G and 3G handset adoption, will combine to deliver global mobile entertainment revenues of more than US$59 billion by 2009, according to a new report from Juniper Research.

But while adult content – frequently heralded as mobile’s "killer app" – will generate healthy revenues of nearly US$2.2 billion by the end of the decade, the key drivers of mobile content are expected to be gambling and games, with their respective markets worth US$19.3 billion and US$18.5 billion respectively by 2009.

According to report author Dr Windsor Holden, "Lotteries are ubiquitous in many countries, and if you start launching lotteries on mobile handsets than you’re tapping into a form of gambling in which the majority of adults indulge on a weekly basis, while sports betting and casinos are also high-revenue businesses."

Dr Holden added that mobile games were also beginning to generate substantial revenues, while sales in emerging markets – with little or no established PC or games console base – were particularly encouraging.

Other findings from the report include:

• The mobile entertainment market will reach US$17.6 billion in 2005, up by 71% on 2004
• After gambling (33%) and games (31%), the most popular entertainment services in 2009 will be music (16%) and sports (8%)
• Ringtones – which currently account for 31% of the mobile entertainment market – will contribute no more than 8% by 2009
• The increasing adoption of non-voice services in the US and Canada will push North American revenues to US$11.3 billion in 2009, up from just over US$1 billion in 2004.

White papers and further details of five new studies (Adult, Gambling, Games, Music & Ringtones and Sport & Infotainment) that comprise the ‘Mobile Entertainment Content Series (second edition)’ can be obtained at http://www.juniperresearch.com or from Michele Ince at michele.ince@juniperresearch.com, Telephone +44(0)1256 345612.

Juniper Research provides analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing analyst reports, consultancy and industry surveys.

Image Credit: coloribus.com

The Isle of Man based giant online poker website PokerStars was in conflict with the UK Advertising Standards Authority this week over its new "Play Mind Games" poster campaign, reports The Guardian newspaper.

The campaign features top pro poker player Daniel Negreanu holding an ice hockey stick and sporting the line: "Poker is a sport of courage, conviction and confidence," and the Authority, which has been strict in its adjudication of gambling advertisements, invoked the guidelines that ads are not allowed to link gambling with sexual success, an improved self-image or appeal to children or young people.

PokerStars argued that the ad was based upon Negreanu’s own opinion that success in poker required courage, conviction and confidence and that this was appropriately conveyed by the picture of him with the ice hockey stick and the use of the word “sport". The poster in no way implied that a person would acquire or improve upon these virtues as a result of gambling, the poker site asserted, and the reference to the offending terms was intended to highlight the difference between poker and other forms of gambling where the human elements affecting the outcome is significantly less.

The company argued that it was widely understood by the general public that poker was a game of tactics and ingenuity, and that the poster accurately positioned poker in a sporting context where self belief was a key factor.

However, the ASA ruled that the statement contained attributes that demonstrated mental toughness or resilience, and could be seen as admirable qualities in the target audience of 21 to 44 year old men. The claim implied not only that those qualities were needed in order to play poker, but also that success at poker would enhance those qualities in a player, and therefore breached CAP Code clauses 57.4(f) and 57.4(i) (Gambling) and the material was not to be used again.

Source: Online-Casinos.com

Representative Barney Frank has been on the case since 2006. The minute the ill-advised Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed, Frank began his efforts to overturn the Bill.

While he has gotten close before, he has never been as close as he is now to freeing millions of American online poker players. Not what they are doing now is illegal, but Frank’s new Bill would do something the UIGEA does not. Clarify legal and illegal online gambling.

Last week, the Payments System Protection Act was passed by the House Committee on Financial Services. It was a major step towards finally freeing the millions of Americans that currently play poker online.

This week, the Bill and the poker players face another big test. A vote is expected from the full House on the Bill. If approved, the road would then be paved for Americans to actually know what is or is not legal to gamble online.

"Adults are entitled to do with their money what they want to do," said Frank.

That has been the basis of his crusade to keep government out of the homes of these millions of people who play poker online.

Of course, the other thing Frank is trying to get through to his fellow representatives is that Americans are playing online already. He feels the government needs to provide them with a safe place to play, where they are guaranteed to get paid when they win, and where the government can regulate the companies that run these online sites.

Source: CasinoGamblingWeb.com

Daily Star reports that Desperate Housewife Eva is launching a second branch of her Tinseltown eatery, Beso, in Las Vegas, and that Posh is apparently planning to chip in by turning half the venue into a casino specialising in dominoes (unfortunately, Strip Poker with the girls is not on the menu yet).

Heartbreak aside, a source close to the two A-listers reported that the two had become pals since Posh moved to LA with hubby David and their kids.

The source went on to say that the stars “are obsessed with the game and spend most evenings going out for a civilised meal and then getting stuck into a meaty tournament”.

The insider added: “But they realised there are no venues which provide dinner and focus on this new Hollywood craze.

“So when Eva said she was opening a second Beso branch in the gambling capital of the world, Victoria had the brainwave of turning it into a place which specialises in food and their favourite game.”