Poker in Asia is the New Hit of the Gambling Industry

Poker is hitting big in the Asia-Pacific region. The card game has become very popular, whether we talk about a cash event in a poker room or the massive crowds who play online poker in China. Experts say there is some serious money to be made in Asia. The prestigious PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) firm released a report predicting an annual growth of 9.2 percent in the poker industry between 2012 and 2015.

Key players are certain areas such as Macau or Hong Kong. The ex-colonies have a different history from mainland China, and their special administrative region status allows them to have different gambling regulations from the strict Chinese gambling laws.

Many big European gambling site operators are reluctant to expand aggressively on the Asia-Pacific market. They face cultural challenges and suffer from lack of local expertise. Nevertheless, the prospects are so big that investments will pay out – sources say.

In Australia, poker also plays an important part in gambling with 60 percent of all gaming revenue. Judging from past trends, the proportion of poker in Asia-Pacific gambling could go the same direction. Right now poker is responsible for around 4 percent of the region’s gaming revenue. Imagine the growth in the revenue of Chinese internet casino once the world’s most populous country gets the poker bug.

The recent Asian Poker Tour (APT) is a perfect example of the game’s rise. Each year saw a better location and more money involved, and the last event was held in one of the world’s most splendid gambling spots, StarWorld Hotel & Casino in Macau.

The truly five-star event introduced many new players from Asia who can be the ‘faces’ of poker in the region. This has happened a few years back when poker conquered Europe and helped the game to gain recognition from all walks of life. We’re all in.