EU betting market grows as punters switch to mobile betting
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has revealed an 11% growth in the online gambling market across Europe, with the UK accounting for 32.4% of the market.
According to market data published by the EGBA in partnership with H2 Gambling Capital, the market expansion saw gross gaming revenue rise from 2017’s €20m to €22.2m year-on-year.
Maarten Haijer, secretary general of the EGBA commented on the data: “Europe’s online gambling market continues to show a strong demand-driven growth and a switch to mobile devices.
“But its increased popularity reinforces the need for more consistent and strong consumer protections and industry standards across all EU countries.
“The current situation of diverging and sometimes conflicting regulations in EU countries is detrimental to consumers, authorities and operators alike.”
EGBA represents bet365, Betsson Group, GVC Holdings PLC, Kindred Group PLC, MRG, and ZEAL Network, who combined had a total of 121 online gambling licenses across 20 EU countries.
The latest data confirms a ‘record-high online gambling share’ of the total gambling market across Europe, with online gambling activity generating €22.2bn GGR, accounting for 23.2% of the total EU gambling market – up from a 21.2% share in 2017.
57% of online bets were placed via a computer, while 43% of online bets were placed from phones and tablets – a jump of 39% compared to 2017. The shift underlines a noticeable shift towards the increasing use of mobile devices to wager bets.
Sports betting was the most popular online gambling activity with 42.5 per cent of the total EU market share, worth €9.4bn GGR, followed by casino games at 32.4 per cent, or €7.2bn GGR, lottery at 12.6 per cent, €2.8 bn GGR, poker at 5 per cent, €1.1bn GGR, bingo at 4.3 per cent, €1bn GGR and other games with a 3.2 per cent market share €700,00 GGR.
The annual data collection includes that of the overall EU online gambling market and EGBA member companies – including information about their market value, payments, games, sports, customers, licensing and compliance
Source: SBC News
