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PACIFIC POKER, AN ONLINE
POKER WEBSITE, is the definite WINNER FOR 888.COM
(Feb. 1, 2006)
Fourth quarter revenues at online casino and online poker group
888.com rise an amazing 22%.
Major online casino and online poker room group 888's fourth
quarter results this week again illustrated the staying power of
the online poker phenomenon, with poker revenues up 22 percent
from the previous three months, the company revealed.
"Our new financial year has started well," the owner of the
Pacific Poker Poker Room site said after reporting poker
revenues of $36 million (GBP 20.3 million) in the three months
to December 31. Compared with a year before, poker revenues were
up 138 percent.
Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Chief Executive John
Anderson also said that he was in the market for a sports
betting operation to add to the group's diversity sometime this
year. And he shrugged off comments from the global online poker
market leader Party Gaming plc that it would soon dominate the
online casino marketplace too.
888s overall gaming revenue was up 52 percent to $271 million
in 2005, and the number of real money registered member accounts
rose by 49 percent to 5.5 million at the end of last year. The
number of active members (an individual member who made a
game-related balance movement in a real money account in the
relevant quarter) rose to 330,962 in the fourth quarter, 75
percent more than in the fourth quarter of 2004.
2005 was a good year for 888. Net gaming revenue rose by 52
percent to $271 million for the year, with net gaming revenue
from casino interests up 16 percent to $161 million, and net
gaming revenue from poker up 179 percent to $110 million.
888 posted $77 million in net gaming revenue for the fourth
quarter of 2005 alone, 56 percent more than for the
corresponding quarter of 2004. In the same period, net gaming
revenue from casino activities rose 19 percent to $41 million,
and net gaming revenue from poker soared 138 percent to $36
million.
Net gaming revenue per active member in casino fell by $39 in
the fourth quarter, compared with the preceding quarter, due to
efforts aimed at reviving dormant members. Net gaming revenue
per active member in poker rose by $27, from $129 in the third
quarter to $156 in the fourth quarter.
888 boss John Anderson specifically mentioned the acquisition of
a sports book operation, saying it would be valuable for
customer retention and organic growth.
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