Online Sector Drives Market Expansion
Online gambling accounted for €47.9 billion of the total revenue, representing 39% of the market share and marking an increase from 37% in 2023. Land-based casinos generated €75.5 billion, though their growth rate remained more moderate compared to digital channels.
Lottery operations remained the second-largest revenue generator at €38 billion, with land-based lottery games producing €30.9 billion and online lottery contributing €7.1 billion. Sports and events betting generated €20.1 billion, including €13.7 billion from online activity, while gaming machines accounted for €24.9 billion in revenue.
Mobile gaming emerged as the dominant force within the online sector, generating 58% of online revenue in 2024, up from 56% in 2023. This shift reflects the increasing preference for smartphone and tablet-based gambling platforms across European markets.
Market Distribution Across European Countries
Italy maintained the largest market share among EU-27 countries, generating €21.0 billion in total GGR during 2023, followed by the United Kingdom at €19.8 billion, Germany at €14.4 billion, and France at €14.0 billion. Country-specific data for 2024 has not yet been released by EGBA.
Nordic markets demonstrated the highest online penetration rates, with Sweden, Denmark, and Finland collectively accounting for 68% of online market share. In contrast, markets such as Spain showed significantly lower online adoption at 14%.
The EGBA noted that growth in online markets reflects “increased digital adoption and changing consumer preferences” across the region.
2025 Outlook and Growth Projections
Industry forecasts from EGBA and H2 Gambling Capital project Europe’s total gambling GGR will reach €127.7 billion in 2025, representing a 3.5% increase. Online gambling is expected to grow to €51.1 billion, achieving a 40% market share.
Global market analysis from Demand Sage indicates the online gambling sector will expand to $186.58 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 12.3% from $117.5 billion in 2025. The platform reports that one in five adults globally—over 882 million people—have participated in online gambling.
Between 2024 and 2025, the online gambling market has already increased by $11.28 billion, rising from $106.22 billion. EGBA projects that mobile gambling will control two-thirds of revenue by 2029, as desktop betting revenue declines from 42% to 33% between 2024 and 2029.
Factors Supporting European Market Performance
Europe’s regulatory framework provides a foundation for market stability and growth. EGBA emphasized that the region’s “well-regulated online gambling market” with consumer-protection standards supports sustained development.
High internet and smartphone penetration rates across European countries have made gambling widely accessible, with mobile devices accounting for the majority of online betting activity. Innovation within the industry, including live dealer formats, skill-based games, live betting, in-play sports wagering, and eSports integration, continues to drive player engagement.
Economic stabilization and improving wages across Europe have contributed to the more measured growth rate observed in fiscal year 2024, according to industry analysts.
Global Market Comparison
The Asia-Pacific region represents the second-largest gambling market after Europe and the UK, with market predictions reaching $92.34 billion and projected growth to $185.2 billion by 2033, marking a CAGR of 8.0%. Despite gambling restrictions in China and India, Japan and the Philippines generated significant revenue in 2024 at $8.1 billion and $7.2 billion respectively.
North America’s regulated online market shows strong growth potential. Analysts at Vizio predict combined regulated iGaming GGR in the Americas, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will rise from $15.6 billion in 2022 to approximately $32.5 billion by 2026, reaching parity with Europe’s levels around 2028 at $56.3 billion.
Europe’s relatively open gambling market structure positions the region as the global industry leader in both revenue generation and market innovation.
Source: BNO News
