Spectrum Gaming Group, which authors the Gaming Industry Observer newsletter, recently identified the Top 21 Industry Trends for 2009. Among them is the continued fight for the legalization and regulation of online poker in the United States. In addition, the continued globalization of the industry is expected to take center stage in the New Year.

With a new Congress heading to Capitol Hill in 2009, each piece of pro-internet gaming legislation must now be reintroduced. Bills by Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) that were not acted on during the 2008 Congressional session have expired. Therefore, a new slate of bills will likely become a part of the 2009 agenda, although exactly what they will contain is unknown. Spectrum Gaming Group stated, “Internet gambling in [the] USA will be a hot federal issue for the new administration and Congress; gaming companies will fund lobbying efforts on both sides.” President-elect Barack Obama takes office on January 20th.

After the 2006 passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in the United States, many internet gambling companies were forced to look elsewhere for new customers. In Europe, corporations such as Party Gaming, 888, and Sportingbet are listed on the London Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, poker has continued to blossom in Asia, including the development of the PokerStars-backed Asia Pacific Poker Tour. The continued international growth is highlighted by Spectrum, which stated, “Gaming companies [will] increase efforts to export their brands globally.” In Macau, specifically, Spectrum explained that there may be “support from China to ease visa restrictions, increasing [the] flow of visitors into Macau.”

In total, the global economic downturn is also featured prominently on Spectrum’s list of 2009 industry trends, encompassing eight of them. In fact, the list’s first prognostication states, “Advancements in technology that impact revenues and cut costs will continue to be attractive to operators even in an economic downturn.” Poker Tek, which manufactures computerized full-sized poker tables as well as heads-up models, is in the midst of conducting a 30 day trial with Norwegian Cruise Lines by placing several of its products on the Pearl. Poker Tek has made its niche by offering a hybrid of live and online poker. In essence, each table does not need a dealer to operate and more hands can be dealt per hour: 50% more in Hold’em and 100% more in Omaha. Poker Tek’s tables are a staple of the Excalibur in Las Vegas.

Other trends identified for the New Year include declining food and room costs at hotel properties, stoppage of development of “big box” casinos, and the adoption of gaming by racetracks, which have also seen their revenues decline as a result of the global economic meltdown. Spectrum predicts developers producing “games that appeal to a younger demographic, including lotteries, bingo, and server-based technology.”

Nevada gambling revenues were down 22% in October of 2008 in comparison to the same period in 2007, according to the state’s Gaming Control Board. Revenue has fallen comparatively for 10 straight months, with December of 2007 marking the most recent year over year increase. Las Vegas strip casinos, which include hallmark poker establishments such as the Venetian, Bellagio, and Wynn, saw their revenues plummet by 25.77% in October. Attendance at the recent Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic was down 26% in 2008, although tournament organizers were pleased with the 490 player turnout for the $15,000 buy-in tournament.

This is the fifth year that Spectrum Gaming Group has compiled its industry trends list. It is based in Linwood, New Jersey and managed by Michael Pollock and Fredric Gushin. The former’s name is attached to the Gaming Industry Observer, which is released 20 times every year.

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