ARE ONLINE 'GAMING' AND 'GAMBLING' CONVERGING?

(500) (22-September-2006)

You could lay bets on Tomb Raider outcomes !

Activision video gaming boss Robert Kotick spoke this week of the role in- [video]-game gambling could play in the future, describing it as the 'Holy Grail' of the games business.

Kotick reckons the cross-over between gaming and 'gambling' could potentially be huge, and far more extensive than at present. Discussing the potential of wagering with regards to online games, he said: "There's probably lots of opportunities to figure out how to develop prize play [and] cash play as a future growth opportunity. You're going to need a big installed base, and a very different regulatory climate. And that's going to take some time."

The Activision CEO apparently thinks the integration of gambling is 'inevitable', especially as games become increasingly online and multiplayer focussed.

"When you think about the Holy Grail of the video game business, organised competition for prize play and cash play is going to be the floodgate of opportunity for new audiences," he affirmed. "And it will happen eventually, but I wouldn't expect it anytime soon."

Whilst Activision recently dipped their toes into the realms of online gambling, with a series of Poker games, these were played for the love of it rather than cold hard cash.