When the final figures for 2011 are tallied, consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) expects economic pressures on UK consumers to result in a decrease in overall casino and online gambling revenues (compared to a 0.6% rise in 2010). However, before any of you UK gambling execs contemplate throwing yourself off London Bridge, PwC expects those UK figures to take a slight uptick in 2012, and the imminent opening of 16 new casinos will “help to generate gains averaging 4.1% compounded annually between 2012 and 2015.” PwC also buttered up the UK’s toast by confirming its status as the largest legal online gaming market.
The future isn’t as rosy for what PwC classifies as EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa). Likely alluding to the ongoing Balkanization of European gaming markets, The Independent quoted PwC’s lead gaming partner David Trunkfeld thusly: “Weak economic conditions and the impact of adverse regulatory developments in some countries will curtail growth.” PwC’s figures showed EMEA gaming revenues falling 12% in 2009 and 7.2% in 2010, but Trunkfeld still expects a $2b rise between 2010 and 2015, when revenues will reach $18.3b.
Globally, the industry’s future is up, up and away. PwC is predicting 9.2% annual growth between now and 2015, boosting overall casino and online gaming revenues from $117.6b in 2010 to $182.8b by 2015. The chief engine behind this growth will be Asia, with Macau designated as the jewel in the industry’s crown. To sum up, the UK online gaming license is the industry’s most credible, and any company lacking a comprehensive Asian strategy is missing the boat – two truths this site repeats about a dozen times each week. So, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to go check the PwC website to see if those letters now stand for PricewaterhouseCalvin.
