Ofcom study shows 11% of us play every week
The online casino world is getting very excited at the moment about the potential of smartphones. Of course, the ability to play mobile slots is nothing new - Kerching online casino members have been able to play classics like Elvis Top 20, Ooh Aah Dracula R.I.Peater and Hi 5 since the beginning of last year. And Apple fanboys love nothing better than to play titles such as Critter Crunch, Monkey Kick and the Rainbow Riches iPhone game.
But amid all the hype, one point is often overlooked. Just how many people play mobile games on their handset? Ofcom, the independent UK communications regulator, is better placed than most organisations to work out the true size of the market. Indeed, the organisation's latest study revealed some interesting facts for fans of mobile.
Ofcom Mobile Study 2010
- Ofcom interviewed no fewer than 1,632 UK adults aged 16 and over to get one of the most comprehensive insights ever seen into the mobile mindset.
- According to the study, playing pre-loaded games is the seventh most popular activity on a mobile phone for UK adults.
- For the record, that puts gaming behind phone calls (obviously), texting, taking photos, picture messaging, listening to music and taking videos.
- A sizeable 11 per cent of adults say they play mobile games at least once a week.
However, this is only the half of it. The eighth most popular pursuit in the Ofcom findings was visiting websites, which also accounted for 11 per cent of users. This statistic grows in importance when you consider that the likes of the new Monopoly Multiplier iPhone game can only be played for cash by visiting a specially designed website. Since paying mobile casino games are currently excluded from the App Store, we can assume that some of these people will be accessing iPhone casino sites like i.kerching.mobi in the future.
"While we anticipate a move on Apple's part to allow paid casino apps in their store, dedicated sites will still play a huge role in the future of mobile gaming," said a casino insider. "With handsets and mobile web getting better, players will be able to access even richer games without having to download software."
So while it may be true that smartphones are generating a huge amount of excitement among the online casino community, the figures show that this is not simply a case of getting worked up about nothing. Instead, Ofcom's research suggests that millions of UK adults are already playing mobile games on a regular basis. Seen in this light, it's safe to say that mobile casino games are here to stay.
Posted by Richard Frost at 09:45 AM
labels: mobile casino