Mobile Phones and Online Casinos

Gambling in New Zealand has a rich history with documented information showing it started as early as 1830’s when Kiwis bet on horse racing. Despite the country being an isolated island, it holds the status of being the inventor of the “automatic totalisator” which is also known as the tote board the machine that lets fans see the horses’ position during the race. This machine set a foundation upon which the modern gambling is set up.

According to the Gambling Act 2003, all gambling is considered illegal by the government of New Zealand unless it is licensed. The classification of what entails gaming is in four main categories, and each of which requires an exclusive license to operate and the players must be above the age of twenty to access casinos and eighteen to participate in lottery games and betting. All the regulations execution is carried out by the country’s Department of Internal Affairs.

In regards to online gambling, the act defines it as “gambling by a person at a distance by interaction through a communication device” which poses a technicality that these gamers are exploiting that they can play or bet in casino games online as long as the host websites are based abroad. In the land of The Long White Cloud online gambling brings in a staggering NZ$2 billion a year which makes the country a lucrative market for online gambling brands.

The gambling sites are developing applications that make it possible for the gamblers to access the games via their mobile phones, with the introduction of the Smartphone information access by most people through the phone nowadays and being able to indulge in your favorite game that has potential to bring you returns in an added advantage. Some of the applications have gained much popularity because they offer the players exclusive bonuses and promotions, the apps are configured in a way that they are confined to phone usage and cannot be used on any other communication device. The bonuses though are given on a wagering requirement that the players have to spend an amount on betting before withdrawing. Some applications have even made it easier by awarding a bonus to an individual signing up to their site for the first time, meaning they do not have to deposit any money in the start.

For the gamblers, the biggest motivation for using these mobile sites is the convenience they have. Now people do not have to go to a physical casino to deal, but they can do it from the comfort of their locations. The application developers are taking this popularity in mobile applications to extend their invention by introducing more options such as live dealer tables, slots, electronic table games and more to improve the user experience and easy navigation. Google has also noted the popularity of online betting sites and introduced the applications in its play store categories which are expected to bring a significant impact on the gambling industry.

Thanks to fast internet access and the 4th Generation technology people who use online gambling sites through their mobile phones have a fast connection, and they can open online casino accounts download the mobile application then link these accounts. Statistics show that this industry is growing at a breakneck pace with demographics indicating that women are getting involved in gambling as much as their male counterparts, with video game casino driven games being associated with males and the females have an affinity to scratch and bingo games. The stats show that men are severe gamblers while the ladies play the games for leisure. However, the ladies have shown a tendency to place small bets but keep playing for a more extended period than the males.