Mobile Gambling Issues

The very first example of a mobile gambling event took place in Japan in the form of a new year's lottery. With the success of the Japanese sweepstake, it didn't take long for entrepreneurs to jump on the bandwagon to test out the new technology. Before long, sports betting, including gambling on horse racing and football games became available by mobile phone.

In spite of the success and projected growth of this market, a number of issues exist. As ever with online gambling there is the issue of monitoring and regulation. Other issues include the control and potential manipulation of betting odds. It took a number of years before these elements were managed in the Internet gambling arena, and a similar process will need to be established in the new mobile phone market. Further issues of personal and company confidentiality as well as payment systems and system validity and reliability will have to be addressed.

Difficulties aside, there are a number of top European online gambling operators who are willing to put up the cash to bet on the new technology. These include market names such as Ladbrokes and Blue Square. Technology companies are also lining up to create the software required to power this new sector, with European gaming software companies eager to be first in line for this new business. The ruckus has also attracted the large cellular phone giants such as Nokia and Ericsson into the market. However, many mobile phones are simply not designed to work as gambling devices. Spurred on by the interest in this market, the larger cellular phone providers are currently developing handsets that will enhance the mobile gambling experience.

While issues undoubtedly remain, the projected size of this new market is certain to produce the kind of innovation and investment required to make the mobile gambling sector the potentially largest online gambling sector to date.