European gross gambling revenue tops €123.4 billion in 2024

Gross gambling revenue (GGR) in Europe reached an impressive €123.4 billion (£103.1 billion/$133.4 billion) in 2024, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous year, as reported by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) and H2 Gambling Capital.

Published on March 24, the report titled “European Gambling Market – Key Figures 2025 Edition” provides an in-depth analysis of GGR across all European Union member states and the UK, encompassing provisional data for both online and land-based gambling sectors in 2024.

Online Sector Catalyzes Revenue Growth

The data indicates robust growth across both online and land-based gambling activities, with the online segment exhibiting the most significant surge. Specifically, provisional online GGR soared by 11.7% year-on-year, amounting to €47.9 billion, which constituted approximately 39% of the total GGR for the year.

Online gaming contributed €24.6 billion to this total, with casino-type games, including slots, accounting for €23.2 billion. Accordingly, online casino games represented 45% of all internet gambling GGR in 2024.
Online betting revenue surpassed €16.2 billion, with sports and events betting making up €13.7 billion—29% of total online GGR. The remainder, €7.1 billion, derived from internet lotteries.
Notably, the mode of play revealed a preference shift: 58% of online GGR originated from mobile devices, compared to 42% from desktop platforms.

Land-Based Revenue Increases Modestly by 1.3%

In contrast, the land-based gambling market saw a more modest revenue increment of 1.3%, totaling €75.5 billion. This confirms that, despite the rapid expansion of online gambling, land-based operations remain the predominant source of GGR, accounting for 61% of the overall figure.

Land-based gaming GGR reached €35 billion, though this figure was slightly lower than the previous year. Gaming machines generated €24.9 billion, with casinos contributing €8.5 billion and bingo at €1.6 billion.
Interestingly, lottery activities led land-based revenue generation, yielding €30.9 billion, which constituted 41% of all land-based earnings. Gaming machines followed with 33% and casinos accounted for the remaining 11%.
Betting also played a vital role, generating €9.6 billion, split between €6.4 billion from sports and events betting and €3.2 billion from horse racing.

Distinct Product Type Differences Identified

According to insights from EGBA and H2 Gambling Capital, there are “distinct” differences in product popularity between the online and land-based markets.

While the lottery dominated land-based gambling, it ranked only third online. In sharp contrast, casino games were the most favored online, yet only ranked third in the land-based space.
Sports and events betting exhibited stronger online popularity, though betting on racing was more prevalent in physical betting shops.
Notably, bingo participation was balanced across both platforms, with poker being exclusively online and gaming machines available only in land-based establishments.

UK: The Pinnacle of Online Gambling

Geographically, the UK stands out as the frontrunner in terms of total GGR. While the report covers 2023 performance, it provides provisional insights for 2024, reflecting ongoing trends.

For 2023, the UK generated €30.8 billion in GGR, followed by Italy with €25.5 billion, France at €17.8 billion, and Germany trailed closely with €17.7 billion.
In the realm of online gambling, the UK retained its lead with €11.1 billion in GGR, significantly ahead of Italy at €4.6 billion and France at €3.8 billion.
Conversely, Italy marginally surpassed the UK in land-based revenue, with Germany and France nearly tied for the third slot, while Spain ranked fifth.
The report highlighted that in several countries—including Malta, Estonia, and Latvia—casino games command over 60% of online revenue, showcasing the impact of regional regulations and player preferences.

Future Trends in the European Gambling Market

Looking ahead, the report outlines market forecasts for 2025 through 2029, indicating a steady trajectory of growth.

Projected GGR for Europe is expected to rise by 3.5% year-on-year, reaching €127.7 billion in 2025. This growth will be driven primarily by online gambling, anticipated to achieve €51.1 billion, marking a significant milestone as it constitutes 40% of the total market for the first time.
By 2029, total GGR may reach €149.2 billion, with online revenue expected to account for 45% of GGR, while land-based operations adjust to a 55% share.
For online gambling, gaming is anticipated to be the primary growth driver, potentially generating €22 billion by 2029. Meanwhile, betting could total €34.5 billion, and lottery may reach €10.4 billion.
In the land-based sector, gaming activities are projected to see similar growth, with GGR estimated at €38.3 billion, while lottery revenues could hit €33.5 billion, and betting may reach €10.5 billion.

“The European gambling market exhibited steady growth in 2024,” stated EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer. “While land-based gambling remains dominant and continues to grow in absolute terms, online channels are gaining momentum, driven by evolving consumer preferences and rapid technological advancements. We expect online gambling to surpass the 40% market share milestone by 2025, with this trend continuing as online gambling approaches parity with land-based operations by 2029.”