The latest survey of gambling in the US has found the number of Americans that have gambled online doubled in 2005 to 4% of the population.

Despite its legal confusion, over 50% of players are atttracted mostly to the conveniance of internet gambling while only 10% claimed they bet online primarily to win money - and only 19% of those internet players asked, thought it was illegal.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) also found that US total gambling revenues rose 5% to $30.3 billion

Gambling revenue increased in 10 of the 11 U.S. states that are home to the country's 455 commercial casinos, the report said. Only Mississippi -- where the industry was badly hit last year by Hurricane Katrina -- saw a drop.

About a quarter of Americans who are 21 and older, on average, visited a casino 6.1 times last year, up from 5.9 times in the previous year.

But for the first time in six years the number of Americans who did not approve of gambling rose, with 18 percent calling it unacceptable in 2006, compared with 15 percent last year, according to a survey.

Most Americans, however, saw gambling as an important entertainment and tourism option, the report said

Article: Online gamblers doubled in 2005: study