Online Gambling: Murky Legal Status and Vulnerable Socio-Economic Environment Pose Public Policy Challenges

ABSTRACT

The marketing of online gambling has been successful, measured by the revenues being generated and by its tremendous growth in popularity. After examining a growing body of relevant literature, this study analyzes the legal environment of the United States and European markets and its impact on the affected stakeholders. It was found that the legal status of Internet gambling in the United States is in a flux while enforcement is largely ineffective. An exploration of several future scenarios for the legal environment identifies the dire need for clarification of the legal status of the market as the federal government's most important policy challenge. Some suggestions made regarding future research include studies on promotion and consumer welfare.     

Analysing reviews in the Web 2.0: Small and medium hotels in Portugal

This study presents a characterisation of online reviews for small and medium hotels (SMH) in Portugal. We collected and analysed 1500 online reviews from 50 SMH. The findings show that room, staff and location were the concepts most frequently appeared in the reviews, with cleanliness, friendliness, helpfulness, and centrality of position the terms most frequently used to qualify the concepts. This study points out the main features which SMH managers should prioritize.     

Online distribution of airline tickets: Should airlines adopt a single or a multi-channel approach?

In today's digital world, airlines typically distribute tickets both via their own websites and through online travel agency (OTA) platforms such as Expedia and Travelocity. Although associated with higher distribution costs, selling tickets through the platforms offers airlines exposure to a broader consumer base, and potentially higher sales than selling tickets solely through their own websites. While most airlines have adopted a multi-channel approach by selling tickets through OTA platforms and their websites, some (e.g., Southwest Airlines, easyJet and Ryanair) sell only via the latter. Is one approach better than the other, and if so, under what circumstances? This study analyzes factors that affect an airline's distribution strategy by developing a decision support model. We find that airlines are less likely to use OTA platforms if they have a large loyal consumer base or if the OTA platform is highly competitive.     

The influence of empathy in complaint handling: Evidence of gratitudinal and transactional routes to loyalty

While most studies on complaint handling are focused on performance outcomes, analysis of the processes that reinforce relationship quality is lacking. Building on the relationship marketing theory of reciprocal behaviours, this research proposes and tests a model of the effects of empathy as a particular relationship recovery investment. Addressing for the first time the role of gratitude in a complaint-handling context, this model assumes that both gratitude and transactional satisfaction mediate the influence of empathy on consumers' trust and commitment. Data from a cross-industry survey of phone and online complaints confirmed the proposed model.     

Can retailers get higher prices for “end-of-life” inventory through online auctions?

Manufacturers and retailers are using online auctions to liquidate excess inventory. Using a field study of 11,879 online auctions, this paper builds upon theories of competitive processes to relate four key seller-controlled variables (starting price, day of close, auction length, and brand) to outcomes of online auction for apparel goods. Results suggest that to obtain a higher percentage of the original retail price, retailers should start with a lower price and feature national brands. These and other findings are discussed and a number of future research topics are offered.     

Hedonic and utilitarian shopping goals: The online experience

Marketers offering Web-based shopping typically try to provide a convenient, safe, and pleasant online environment, appropriate to addressing shoppers' functional goals. They might also try to create an experience that encourages more escapist elements of “flow”, a sense of deep involvement that is intrinsically enjoyable, because they assume that this enhanced experience leads to more online buying. The present research suggests that utilitarian flow elements that facilitate shopping may indeed increase purchasing. However, hedonic elements of flow are found to be unrelated to online buying, although they are positively related to outcomes associated with pathological Internet use.     

一种面向智能变电站和生产管理系统设备在线监测的数据转换模型

在线监测是实现电网设备状态检修和生命周期管理的前提,而有效的设备数据转换模型是在线监测的基础。通过对智能变电站及生产管理系统的标准、规范进行分析,提出一种用于智能变电站和生产管理系统设备在线监测的数据转换模型。对生产管理系统的设备信息数据模型进行分类总结,基于交换用XML数据对生产管理系统和IEC 61850标准数据模型进行对比,对变电站设备的铭牌信息、运行信息以及监测信息采用标签映射与ID索引相结合的方法,实现智能变电站到生产管理系统的数据转换。     

Time, attention, authenticity and consumer benefits of the Web

This article addresses three potential consumer behavior tendencies: perceived time scarcity, competition for consumers' attention, and quest for authenticity. It also reviews prior research results on consumer benefits of the Web, which include convenience, time savings, ease of use, cost savings, and selection of items. The most prevalent consumer concerns are safety, waiting time, and loss of human interaction. This paper concludes that both time and attention are closely related to measurable attributes of interactive environments, while the ideals of authenticity may influence behavior less directly.     

Ken-Air Tours—The volatile tourism market in Singapore

Tourism is a key industry in the economy and it is expected to play a key role in the service industry sector. Because of the growing adoption of information technology in the world, the tourism industry too, has been in utilizing the information highway to redefine and deliver the tourism product to the end consumers.Because of the shift towards information technology, the travel agent's traditional roles as an intermediary has come under severe pressure and is currently challenged to its existence. The demise of Ken-Air Tours, a large player in the travel agency industry in Singapore, is the focus of this report and the impact of the emphasis on technology is investigated and discussed.     

Your Call: eBay and Demand for the iPhone 4☆

The iPhone 4 was introduced into the UK market on 24^th June 2010 to significant consumer interest. Demand revealed itself exceeding supply through conventional channels, since there was very extensive activity in terms of bidding on eBay auctions for the product. We monitored all UK eBay transactions on the iPhone 4 for six weeks from introduction, with total transactions amounting to around £1.5m. We analyse determinants of winning bids in terms of characteristics of the phone, the seller, and the buyer. Our most notable and novel finding relative to previous studies is a very significant premium over list price being paid in almost all cases, with positive uplift factors including whether the phone was unlocked and whether it could be sold overseas. Demand fell over time, as evidenced by lower achieved prices, but the fall in price was relatively modest. A significant premium of 32GB over 16GB versions is revealed.