“Online poker does not cannibalize land casinos”

 “These results also once again demonstrate online gaming’s potential to expand our business,” said Keith Smith. “About 85 percent of our online players have not had rated play at Borgata in at least two years, showing there is little overlap with our land-based business.”

“Online gaming is growing our database,” he added, “creating a long-term opportunity to market Borgata to an entirely new group of customers.”
Other casino interests with properties in New Jersey echo Smith’s sentiments, showing that online poker has plenty of room for growth since regular casino customers are not the majority at online casinos of the same property.

According to the CEO of Dover Downs in Delaware, another state which recently regulated its online poker market, the casino’s existing customer base is “not going to go to the internet. You’re talking about a new market, a new demographic. Some of them may try just for fun, but they’ve been used to coming here and they love the personal touch, the customer service. They’re still going to go for the spa treatments.”

Also, Mitch Garber, speaking for Caesars Interactive, pointed to studies done in more established markets in the United Kingdom and Australia, showing that there is no evidence that online gambling cannibalizes terrestrial gambling.