The boom in online poker has led to an increase in the number of new players visiting casinos, according to an industry expert.
Despite a drop in revenue for US casinos, Phil Martin, editor of Casino Review magazine, has stated that the rise in online gambling is not responsible, rather it has led to greater interest in gaming.
Mr Martin explained: "The online sector, and certainly internet poker, has created a new buzz within the casinos."
He added that the popularity has led to a large contingent of younger players who learn their skills in online games – skills that are then transferred to poker tournaments in casinos.
The Gambling Commission recently reported that 7.1 per cent of adults stated that they had participated in online gambling in the year to March 2008, up from 6.9 per cent the previous year and 5.2 per cent the year before that.
The boom in online poker has led to an increase in the number of new players visiting casinos, according to an industry expert.