The IGN Data Hub - Mar 1, 2000

MSNBC Internet Gambling Poll

In a recent survey, MSNBC received 2,878 responses to the question, "Should U.S. laws apply to bets taken by overseas Web sites?"

Twenty-six percent answered, "Yes, otherwise it would be impossible to regulate any kind of conduct on the Internet."

Seventy-four percent answered "No, operators of such sites shouldn't be penalized if they are licensed in other nations."

Canoe's CNEWS Internet Gambling Poll

CNEWS, a Canadian news site, has an ongoing survey regarding Net betting. The results to date are:

Yes - 59 percent
No - 35 percent
Not sure - 6 percent

Yes - 17 percent
No - 67 percent
Not sure - 15 percent

Yes - 13 percent
No - 87 percent

Economy as Internet Predictor?

The U.S. Internet user profile is reflecting the actual population, and looking less like the typical white technophiles that once dominated the Web. This and other interesting tidbits come from eOverview Report 2000, which takes a look at demographics, usage, online shopping, e-business growth, financial services online, e-advertising, e-mail marketing and Internet geography. Among their findings:

An average American surfs the Web 6.7 hours a week.
Retail e-commerce revenues increased from $8 billion in 1998 to $18.6 billion in 1999.
E-mail marketing in the US cost $898 million last year, with $97 million for e-mail ads alone.
The 78 million active American e-mailers received about 1.08 billion e-mails last year, about 10 percent was spam.

www.emarketer.com

Internet Taxation

Online retail sales totaled nearly $13 billion last year, according to Forrester Research, but only 20 percent of the taxes were actually collected by U.S. states. The five states that lost the most in online tax revenues were California, $73.8 billion; Texas, $51.9 million; Illinois, $32.6 million; Florida, $30.3 million and New York, which lost $26.6 million.

"If left as is, taxation issues will only get worse as online retail sales grow to $184 billion in 2004, " said James McQuivey, research director of Technographics Data & Analysis. "Ironically, only 22 percent of the 8900 online consumers surveyed shop around to avoid paying sales taxes online. Shipping charges, on the other hand, are much more important than taxes."
www.forrester.com

Stamps Cost Less to Use than Online Bill Payment Services

Last year only three million Americans paid bills online compared to seven million who checked out their accounts over the Internet, and 20 million who tracked their stock portfolios via the Internet. GartnerGroup surveyed consumers who were already using online banking or trading services. Sixty percent of those surveyed said they were unwilling to pay usage fees for the services. Currently, four out of five banks charge customers a fee for online bill payment.

Big Spending in January

Americans spent a whopping $2.8 billion online in January for a variety of products, according to a report issued this week from the National Retail Federation and Forrester Research, in conjunction with Greenfield Online. Consumers spent the most on airline tickets, followed in a dead heat by computer hardware and books, and then software and apparel.

During the month, media products accounted for $653.6 million of total purchases. Next, combined air, hotel and car rental business booked online during January equaled $582.8 million.