Historically gambling websites have faced extreme difficulty advertising in the United States due to regulations imposed making such advertising illegal. Now with the news coming out of Las Vegas, Nevada that a leading public radio station is no longer running an advertising spot for an Internet poker room that both the state and federal government consider to be illegal, the future of advertising for Offshore Casinos, Sport Books and Poker Rooms seems to be diminishing. This not the only time the off shore casino, sports books and poker rooms have been shut out of advertising opportunities. In 2004 Google (GOOG) listed gambling as unacceptable advertisers stating: Gambling advertising is not permitted for online casinos, sports books, bingo, and affiliates with the primary purpose of driving traffic to online gambling site. Without immediate intervention their hopes of marketing to US citizens will soon be obsolete.
Internet casino representatives in the past have blasted the U.S. Department of Justice's stance that Internet gambling is illegal, saying it is based on a flawed and outdated law that is ripe for a legal challenge. Some media companies, including magazines and Web sites based in Las Vegas, continue to run Internet casino ads in open defiance of the government and say they also are protected by the First Amendment, which affords the right to promote legal products and services. However, such efforts have not been effective and Offshore Casinos, Sport Books and Poker Rooms are finding it harder and harder to advertise in the most effective media markets of television and radio.
This problem has grown over the past few years and has expanded to include many dot com industries. The FCC regulations imposed on radio and television have left most Offshore Casinos, Sport Books and Poker Rooms with no voice in the US. This lack of marketing in the US has had a devastating affect on the industry because US citizens statistically have a high amount of discretionary cash and according to unofficial numbers US citizens make up 3 billion dollars for the offshore gaming industry. Offshore Casinos, Sport Books and Poker Rooms cannot reach its fullest potential without marketing to this audience.
But all hope is not lost for this industry as a new media emerges from the internet Based Radio Stations. About 37 million people listen to internet radio, according to Arbitron and Edison Media Research (3-25-2005), spending an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes a day. Most listen to music, but there is a core of about 6.6 million people who listen to news/talk/information radio on the internet for content that is not local. This group; about 8 percent of the U.S. population, has a heavy tendency toward an online media lifestyle, and are "early adopters" of new products. Without FCC regulations, internet based radio stations are emerging as the answer to Offshore Casinos, Sport Books and Poker Rooms need to advertise to US citizens. This new trend is helped by a couple of internet stations, such as Inspin.com and HighRollerRadio.com, that focuses on meeting this industry's marketing needs.
Inspin.com's radio network was created by Wagerweb.com. They produce sports talk and news shows to advertise their company exclusively. Inspin hit the internet air waves in early 2005 with one program featuring sports talk and handicapping. They produce entertainment videos on sport related content. On the website they have audio downloads for members to listen.
Unlike Inspin.com, HighRollerRadio.com offers special online rates for commercials spots for offshore poker rooms, offshore casinos and sports books looking to air their radio commercials. Developed by terrestrial station executives in 2005 HighRollerRadio.com broadcasts the station's signal on the internet where the First Amendment still protects the right to promote products and services.
HighRollerRadio.com has gained momentum very quickly because of the obvious need for its services in the industry. This radio station features shows such as Major League Poker's On the Felt, as well as other shows that cater towards the High Roller lifestyle. Offering informative talk radio on gambling topics, this radio station has grown a great deal of interest from the public that cannot get this information from any other source locally. HighRollerRadio.com has begun to receive many requests for advertising from Offshore Casinos, Sport Books and Poker Rooms, and according to company officials, "The need for professional broadcasting on the internet has made us attractive to the offshore gaming industry".
Internet based radio stations such as HighRollerRadio.com and Inspins.com are shining a new light of hope to this industry's plight to market freely to the public. At least until the Internet casino representatives are able to change the U.S. Department of Justice's stance that Internet gambling is illegal, they will still have the opportunity to reach the US public through the airwaves of Internet radio.
About the Author
None