Online Poker Rocks
With the NHL on strike, couch potatoes everywhere have looking for new sources of entertainment. Their salvation has been televised poker tournaments, particularly the World Series of Poker on ESPN where odd-looking characters battle it out for big bucks - this year's winner took home US$5-million. A beneficiary of the poker phenomena is Toronto-based Cryptologic Inc., which makes software for online gambling. The company posted better-than-expected third-quarter results, propelled by its poker software and the growing interest in online tournaments. Online poker houses are expected to generate a staggering US$1.5 billion of business this year, compared with US$150-million in 2002. The amount gambled at online poker houses will hit US$30-billion. It makes you wonder why there aren't more publicly-traded online gambling companies.
Mark Evans
Senior Technology Reporter
National Post
300-1450 Don Mills Road
Toronto, Ont.
M3B 3R5
http://evans.blogware.com
