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These days, Cryptologic has been no stranger to the Asian facing online gambling industry. In fact, the company now has several investments in Asia, which according to the CEO and President, Brian Hadfield, our “exceeding expectations” for both Cryptologic and the Asian industry itself. One of these investments specifically targets the popular Asian game of Mahjong, and holds great potential for the company in the years to come.

Shortly following Cryptologic’s investment in the online mahjong software developer, Mahjong Time, the Asian-based group recently scored a licensing deal that will allow them to provide online mahjong betting solutions to half of the internet cafes proliferating China. This amounts to a presence in thirty provinces, 250 cities and partnerships with over 1,200 wholesale distributors.

With over 253 million internet users, China potentially represents the largest and fastest growing online gambling market in the world. Of course, regulations and red tape will play a part in that; However, the fact remains that the Chinese and all of Asia are no stranger to gambling, superstition and the notion of “good luck”. Mahjong itself is the most popular game in Asia and is estimated to be played by more than 600 million people worldwide.

Online mahjong is even catching on more in the U.S., although Cryptologic online casinos and licensees do not do business in the U.S. (If you are looking for a U.S. facing online mahjong room, try the Microgaming-powered Crazy Vegas Casino - 28Mahjong.com). The World Series of Mahjong, which is like the World Series of Poker for the rest of the world (and which Mahjong Time is an official partner of), is helping to popularize this domino-like “game of skill” even more.

The UK Gambling Comission has published more important findings as part of their quarterly survey’s regarding remote gambling participation in the UK. With the help of ICM Research, the Commission has been gathering data to gauge the immediate and long terms effects of a liberalized gambling sector that now includes online gambling regulation and additional terrestrial casinos.

Following the April’08 survey data, the July report shows much of the same that took place in the later third of 2007. In other words, there hasn’t been a spike in gambling activities - much to the chagrin of anti-gambling advocates who would have hoped otherwise to defend their position. Beginning in September 2007, the surveys have given the Commission sufficient information to trend quarterly data figures. And as mentioned, the trend is that gambling is under good control in the UK.

And not that it wasn’t before. But with increased casino gambling options - both online and land-based - there has been a justifiable uncertainty to a small extent. The Commission and gambling experts, however, have been confident from the very beginning. It comes down to the same words you hear online-gambling activists in the U.S. saying - with regulation comes better protection and scrutiny on the industry itself.

That said, key statistical findings in the latest survey suggest that 8.8% of UK adults participated in at least one form of remote wagering in the last year - either though a computer, mobile phone of interactive television. As mentioned, this was the same percentage in 2007, which was up from 7.2% in 2006. What is most interesting is that nearly half of this percentage was made up of adults who only participate in National Lottery games via remote means of wagering.

Demographically speaking, the average UK online bettor is an adult male between the ages of 18-44. Although no stats were specifically taken in regards to online bingo, it could be fairly assumed that female UK bettors make up the larger portion of online bingo activities. Online gambling via computer continues to remain the most popular form of remote wagering (preferred by nearly 7% of those surveyed), followed by mobile phones and interactive digital television at approximately 2%.