In decline: Poker gaming yield

Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC) provided GamblingInsider with figures that show that the gross gaming yield (GGY) from internet poker throughout the world is in decline.

The figures indicate that the GGY from internet poker will drop to $3.22bn by the end of 2019. This is a steady decline, given that the worldwide poker-generated GGY stood at $4.99bn in 2010, then fell to $4.54bn in 2011 and hit a mere $3.61bn in 2015.

In sum, this is a decrease of 28% over a five-year period; and if the GBGC’s predictions are correct, figures would decrease by a further 9% between 2016 and 2019.

Changes in the market may be a reason for this decline. While North America was with 59% one of the most lucrative markets in 2005, the North American market share fell to 12% in 2015. This can be attributed to the 2006 US ban on online gambling and the online pokers ‘Black Friday’ of 2011, which saw three of the largest online poker companies, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Cereus, go to court over bank fraud and money laundering.

During the same period, from 2005 to 2015, the Asian share of the market went up from 3% and 13%. This is closely correlated to the decline in US share; nevertheless, this newly-emerging market gives hope to the many poker companies, which are attempting to branch out into these markets.