Casino News

Online gaming explodes in South Korea

2007-02-23 16:36:27

There are now more than 17 million online gamers in South Korea, it has been reported, as the country capitalises on some of the fastest internet connection speeds in the world.

A report by MSNBC found that more than a third of the country's 48 million strong population were playing games online at speeds of up to 50 megabits per second.

While such activities are more concerned with video games than gambling, the extent of the habit nonetheless exposes the potential for online casinos to secure large user bases in the region.

Many such casinos and software providers such as CryptoLogic have already secured licensing deals with Asian firms with a view to benefiting from Eastern markets.

The MSNBC report also found that online games were so ingrained in the culture in South Korea that they were both the equivalent to watching television in the Western world and a sign of social status.

"If you want to move up, you have to have access to the internet and a PC. And that means to access online games," said Allison Luong of Pearl Research, speaking to the online media giant.


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