Based on the responses to a voluntary survey of 2,008 active customers and compiled in a 33-page report, "The Online Casino Player: A Comprehensive Profile" paints an unprecedented portrait of the typical online casino player that's strikingly free of the negative images that, until now, have been freely attributed to this group and relatively unchallenged.

Among the revelations included in the report are:

• Regardless of gender, the typical online casino player is most likely to be a mature, well-educated and solidly middle class head of household.
• The vast majority of both men and women online casino players say they do so for "entertainment/fun," on their "free" time from their own computers.
• While men say they prefer to play blackjack and women prefer slots, neither feel their favorite online activity is illegal or unethical and are highly aware of the time and money they spend online.

Rick Smith, Executive Director of the Interactive Gaming Council, a nonprofit global trade association that supports responsible online gaming practices and government regulation of the industry, said, "This research offers a valuable insight for policy makers and gaming regulators as to the demographics of consumers who are participating in online casino games. Opponents of interactive gaming use scare tactics to suggest that the industry feeds on minors and addicted gamblers, and this is not true for the responsible component of the industry. Problem gamblers and minors gambling are of absolutely no benefit to the gambling industry, whether land-based or online.

"We trust that data like this, and from other studies that may be done in the future, will persuade more governments to consider how they can regulate online gaming, rather than undertaking futile efforts at prohibition," Smith concluded.

"In light of the often-times heated and one-sided debate over the status and role of gambling in general and the myriad misconceptions and preconceived ideas of online casinos and their players, in particular, the findings of this survey erase completely those misguided notions," said Shelley Noon Customer Relations and VIP Manager for Peak Entertainment, NV. "This survey underscores that casino gaming-whether in cyberspace or on land-is a widely popular and accepted source of entertainment by the most mainstream elements of our society.

"The Online Casino Player: A Comprehensive Profile" was undertaken by Gongos and Associates-an independent, full-service marketing research company based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan on behalf of Peak Entertainment, NV in 2002. Data for the profile was collected by means of a customer survey administered via the Internet using Gongos' customized software during the month of November. Initial data tabulations were prepared in December 2002, with additional analyses and the report completed in March 2003.

Complete copies of the report are now available for purchase at www.peakentertainment.com at a cost of $795.00 each.