This is the definitive resource for gaming data. We discuss all of the primary subjects and developments in the gambling industry, as well as some extra details to hammer down the nail.
So, if you want an in-depth analysis of what shifts as well as what doesn’t in world of offline and online gambling, this is definitely the place to be. Follow through as we go in-depth and take our microscopic lens through the multi billion dollar industry where everyone wants a share of.
Global Gambling Industry in Recent Years
We’ve broken down each of the crucial facts and divided them into small portions so you are able to read them at your convenience, ranging from the sector’s financial prowess to players unique behaviors.
Whether or not a poker player is working out his or her pot equity, a roulette punter is evaluating their chances of winning, or an operator is presenting his latest financial statement, figures pervades every aspect of gambling. Have a grip on the numbers so you are able to maximize your potential out of every game.
Top Gambling Establishments
Whenever it pertains to gambling, we’re primarily all on the same side. When we stakes-up either at land based or online casinos, we are all competing against the odds that are offered, irrespective of where we’re located live, the games that we play, or the sum of money we bet. Nevertheless, certain nations have grown above others in recent years, much like a stack of playing cards in a casino.
So, which of these nations conducts the most gambling? Considering the beginning of the millennium, Australia, Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, and Macau have come to be the gambling authorities by means of an amalgamation of legislation, creative thinking, as well as successful advertisement.
Let’s get started and examine some of the big names in 2023 along with how they’re leveraging their respective sectors to become world leaders.
1. Macau
Keynote: Despite the fact that gambling is prohibited in the mainland of China, Macau serves as a gambling sanctuary. Gambling accounts for fifty percent of Macau’s earnings. In 2018, the metropolitan area earned over $38 billion.
Main Offering: Casino Gaming.
The relationship between gambling and China can be described has one that is like a love-hate affair. There are government-owned lotteries to serve its over one billion citizens, yet many land based and online gambling remains illegal. The main issue that China, or perhaps its administration is facing involves how to handle Macau.
The formerly occupied Portuguese territory today has one of the major gambling concentrations in the entire world. Within China, it serves as a Special Administrative District. Even though it is not entirely ruled from Beijing, it has been subjected to a great deal of pressure from mainland China to get itself off earnings from gambling.
The Governing System: Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) regulates all gambling activities in Macau. The DICJ also assists the territory’s Chief Executive in developing economic goals for the region.
Macau has 38 casinos, comprising big projects from worldwide heavyweights like Melco Crown, Wynn, as well as Sands.
According to reports, the income generated from casino activities for the year 2016 is given below in comparision to the 2015 figures:
- In January of 2016, the total was 18,674m MOP$ compared to 23,478 MOP$ in 2015.
- In February of 2016, the total was 19,521m MOP$ compared to 19,542 MOP$ in 2015.
- In March of 2016, the total was 17,981m MOP$ compared to 21,487 MOP$ in 2015.
- In April of 2016, the total was 17,341m MOP$ compared to 19,167 MOP$ in 2015.
- In May of 2016, the total was 18,389m MOP$ compared to 20,346 MOP$ in 2015.
For a number of years, Macau’s total revenue from gaming has been declining. Many casinos are experiencing difficulties as a result of a crackdown on money circulating to Macau from China. A shift in casino focus to ‘mass market’ leisure could positively affect Macau’s riches. Alternatively, High rollers and VIPs will continue to seek out new gambling destinations such as the Philippines, Singapore, and Australia.
2. The United States of America
The United States has historically been a leader in revenue from land based casinos, and the worldwide outbreak of COVID took a toll on this source of earnings, just like other countries under consideration. The gambling sector in the United States was one of many markets that suffered as a result of the restrictions put in place during the pandemic. Gambling activity has decreased, with approximately 47% of seasoned gamblers reporting that they bet less frequently as a result of the crisis, 23% reporting similar levels, and only 5% reporting that they bet more frequently.
Although sports betting grew by more than 68% in the year 2020, probably as a consequence of the Supreme Court’s decision, with nineteen states along with the District of Columbia legalizing sports betting. It was further impeded by Covid regulations, which drastically limited the number of sporting activities offered. According to some experts, the combined sports and iGaming business in the United States will be valued at about $15 billion by 2025 and will have doubled in size by the year 2030.
Keynote: The gambling sector in the United States is valued at about $261 billion and gives direct jobs to about 1.8 million people. The majority of of these occur in Nevada because gambling is illegal in the majority of other jurisdictions.
Main Offering: Fantasy Sports, Sports betting, Poker, Horseracing, Casinos, Lotteries, and Bingo.
Together with Macau, the United States continues to lead the race globally in gambling, with Nevada’s lenient casino sector making sure of that.
Although the majority of states have outlawed online gambling market, a lot of them have authorized casinos, either independently operated or on tribal reservations. In addition, State-level lottery draws are also available in the majority of the states in the US.
In the 2013, the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada were the first US states to establish regulations for internet gaming. Nevada has implemented lawful online poker websites. Also, New Jersey and Delaware have authorized internet casinos and poker websites as well. Gambling on sports on online platforms is illegal everywhere.
In accordance with UNLV’s statistics, industrial casino gaming earnings in the United States has been consistently increasing for the past few years.
The Governing System: Bookmakers, Casinos, and Lotteries are regulated at every state level. Sports betting is still illegal via the internet in the United States, but the prohibition is being contested by the increasing acceptance of Daily Fantasy Sports, DFS. New Jersey and Nevada have permitted land based casinos and some online gambling platforms to lawfully operate. Although, the legalized live poker sectors in both Florida and California are rapidly growing, the two states remain opposed to requests for the legalization of online poker. Pennsylvania’s land based and online gambling sectors recently had their restrictions loosen.
Profits of commercial casino gaming in the United States:
Nevada, quite understandably heads the pack as regards to its quota of Americas gambling at casinos, with a reported $11,113,830 in 2015. However, New Jersey has been experiencing a difficult time. Casinos have closed down in Atlantic City, as casino income has plummeted to $2.5 million in 2015 from previous figures of $5.2 million in 2006.
New Jersey authorized online gambling in 2013 following an easing of online gambling rules. The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) oversees lawful onlineonline gambling in the state of New Jersey.
The big question remains thus: What amount of money does gambling generate each year? In the year 2017, total revenue from sales of gambling services was $158.54 billion; in the year 2018, it totalled $161.24 billion. The highest percentage comes from Pari-Mutuel betting in the year 2017. By the following year, it had switched its attention to bookmaking, with a market share of about $430 million.
3. The United Kingdom
Keynote: The United Kingdom industry is steadily expanding as regulation varies. The British gambling enterprise made £14.4 billion in the year 2018, and it is believed that about thirty-two percent of the general population gambles on a weekly basis.
Main Offering: Mobile gaming, Bingo, Lottery, Horseracing, Casino, Poker, and Social gaming.
The UK, as one of the first gambling sectors and a leader in regulation thanks to the UK Gambling Commission. In recent years, the United Kingdom has reported some excellent results. The UK is unquestionably a terrific gambling society from the quantity of sports betting establishments to the overall size of the gambling industry.
The United Kingdom has both poker rooms and land based casinos in addition to bingo and a controlled national lottery. Also, Britons can now wager for real money at online gambling platforms and via mobile devices.
Virtual gambling has increased dramatically in the United Kingdom. In 2011-12, mobile and online betting generated a Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of £710.19 million. According to recent laws, the figure has risen to the tune of £3.6 billion for 2014-15. Britons gamblers above the age of 18 are permitted to bet online, at land based casinos, and via their mobile devices.
Additionally, there has been some debate about the FOBTs (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals) in brick-and-mortar bookies. These gaming terminals provide casino-themed roulette and slots to passers-by on the streets. Despite initiatives to limit wagers and the rate at which gamblers lose, FOBTs keep powering a massive domestic betting market.
Some other noteworthy facts about the gambling industry including the online gambling market are:
- In 2014-15, there were a total of 171,134 virtual gaming machines.
- Between 2014 and 2015, about 162 new online casinos were licensed.
- As of March 2016, the number of betting shops in the United Kingdom stood at 8,809.
- Lottery donations to noble charities totaled £195.7 million in 2014-15.
- Overall gambling sector income in the United Kingdom in 2014-2015, comprising lottery bet, land based, and online gambling was £12.6 billion.
The Governing System: The UK Gambling Commission regulates gambling in Great Britain, a regulatory organization established in 2005 when the then-Labour administration opted to liberalize gambling legislation.
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is in charge of overseeing casinos and issuing online gambling permits. Since the introduction of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act in 2014, all overseas betting sites wishing to serve UK gamblers need to pay “Point of Consumption” taxes and also obtain a UK Gambling Commission permit.
4. The Australia
Keynote: Approximately 80% of Australians gamble. According to a recent research, they gamble more often than virtually any other nation, averaging over $18 billion every year in casino gaming revenue.
For over a decade now, Australia continues to preserve its gaming supremacy by being creative in integrating both the business aspect and the larger society. This is evident in its new laws regarding cryptocurrencies. Australia has reported some outstanding gambling records in the past few years, thanks to an assortment of pokies funding local sporting events, a thriving online economy, and Asian visitors patronizing live casinos.
Pokies, a slang term for slot machines or fruit machines. Slot can be found in taverns and nightclubs around many states, in addition to land based casinos in Sydney and Melbourne. In Western Australia, pokie machines are primarily confined to casinos. That, nonetheless could shift.
According to the most recent estimates, 2.9 million Australians over the age of 18 took part in pokie machines, accounting for approximately 16% of the population who are adults. Also, about forty-two percent engaged in the activity at least once a week.
Sports betting, on the other hand, is on increasing popularity. Australians can gamble on a variety of sports at state-run TAB establishments.
The Governing System: Each state possess the authority to permit local businesses to operate poker machines. Tabcorp and Tatts have a monopoly on lottery and live sports betting in Victoria.
The Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) of 2001 recently underwent modifications to make ‘in-play’ sports betting illegal in Australia. Some via the internet sports betting websites function in Australia, primarily in the Northern Territory, but casinos are prohibited online. Meanwhile, plenty of the online casinos based in other countries continue to accept Australian gamblers.
5. Canada
Keynote: Having a liberal gaming policy, Canada earns CA$17.3 billion in income from gambling each year. The sector in question expanded by 4.9% in 2017 and continues to expand.
Canada, an important center for a variety of online gambling companies and software developers, has profited from its open attitude to gambling in comparision to its North American neighbor. The Canadian gambling business has emerged as one of the world’s major gaming zones, because to this combination of technological advancement and legislation.
In addition to huge collection of land based casinos in Ontario and British Columbia, the country is home to one of the world’s most important online gambling authorities. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC), located outside of Montreal, authorizes internet casinos and poker companies.
Some other noteworthy facts about the gambling industry including the online gambling market are:
- In the year 2010, the total gross gaming revenue of the Canadian gambling business was CA$15.1 billion ($11.6 billion).
- The total amount of gaming regions in Canada’s gambling sector in 2014 was 34,955.
- As of January 2014, the following millennials had visited casinos:
- 53% at least or twice once every year.
- 17% once between three to five months.
- 19% once a month or more.
- Average money spent per player each casino visit:
- Playing card games such as Poker = CA$53 ($40).
- Table games such as Roulette/Craps = CA$50 ($38).
- Playing card games such as Blackjack = CA$50 ($38).
- Playing slots = CA$50 ($38).
- A visit to a casino bar = CA$25 ($19).
It is believed that a minimum of 76% of adult Canadians gamble in some way. As of the year 2017, this proportion accounted for nearly 30 million Canadians, the precise figure is 29,650,033. The gambling sector in Canada is anticipated to earn more than $15.5 billion each year.
How Do the Best among the Rest Fare?
Although the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have the biggest stacks in the sector, that does not imply that the remainder of the world is out of chips.
The worldwide epidemic caused a 13% year-over-year loss in the entire gambling industry in 2020, amid an 8.8% increase in the global iGaming sector over the same period. Along with physical constraints that prevent gamblers from attending land based casino or sporting events. Many established markets, including Spain, Italy, and Germany, tightened regulations governing marketing and interactions with consumers.
Prior to concluding this gambling statistics article, we’re going to have a glimpse at a couple of the more remarkable data from a few of the world’s rising stars.
- Although being an emerging sector in relation to gambling, 44% of Singaporeans who are 18 years of age and above engaged in some type of gambling in 2014.
- Germans win a median amount of $115 every single year, placing them ninth in the world in regard to per capita earnings.
- In 2013, Russia’s yearly losses due to gambling totalled $2.7 billion.
- Macau, now regarded as the world’s greatest live casino centre, attracted about 31.5 million as tourists in 2014.
- In 2014, 3.9 million gamblers enrolled with online gambling establishments in Spain.
- Having an estimated population of about 127 million, Japan boasts an adequate number of residents to support the nation’s gambling sector. In accordance with one report, Japanese gamblers expended $31 billion in 2013.
The Increasing Popularity of Social Gambling/Casino
Globally, the world had somewhere around 173 million gamblers in 2015. The worldwide social casino industry was valued at $3.81 billion in the year 2016. Since the year 2013, the social casino marketplace has expanded at a CAGR of about +23%.
The social casino industry was anticipated to hit a major win in 2017, with the casino gaming revenue grossing $4.4 billion. Experts predict that this sector will be worth $4.63 billion in CY20, representing a 5% CAGR over the next four years.
Playtika continued to be the top social casino operator in the year 2016, with a 25.4% share of the market, being followed by SciGames Interactive who had a 8.4% revenue share and Zynga having a 8.1% share of the market. The three largest companies together constituted 42% of the whole social casino game sector, with the top 15 accounting for around 83%.
| Top Social Casino Publishers in 2016 | ||||
| Rank | Establishment | Top Games | Generated Revenue ($ millions) | Market Share (%) |
| 1 | Playtika | House of Fun, CZR Casino, WSOP, Bingo Blitz, Slotomania | 946.8 | 24.9 |
| 2 | Zynga | Black Diamond, Hit it Rich!, Wizard of Oz slots, Zynga Poker | 324.1 | 8.5 |
| 3 | Scientific Games | Quick Hits, Jackpot Party Casino, Gold Fish Casino, Hot Shots | 298.8 | 7.8 |
| 4 | IGT | DoubleDown Casino | 279.2 | 7.3 |
| 5 | Aristocrat | Heart of Vegas, Hollywood Spins, FaFaFa- Real Casino Slots | 224.6 | 5.9 |
| 6 | GSN Games | GSN Casino, Mirrorbal, Bingo Bash, Fresh Deck Poker | 185.9 | 4.9 |
North America had the largest social casino industry of any geographical area in 2016, with 1.7 billion dollars in revenue, which is followed by Europe and Asia.
37% of desktop and mobile gamblers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia play social casino titles that include Blackjack, Bingo, Slots, Roulette, Baccarat, and Poker. Popular Slots are the most prominent class of social casino titles, with fifty-three percent of social gamblers playing slots.
The United Kingdom has the highest proportion of gamers with about 58%.
The Most Popular Casino Games
Gambling constitutes one of the earliest and most durable types of pleasure that humans have enjoyed since the dawn of time. People used to play an array of dice games along with other games of chance back in the day. The gambling facilities have evolved dramatically through time, from street gambling to isolated betting halls over periods when the act was prohibited, to the extravagant casinos that first appeared in the 1600s, once the European continent became more amenable to the concept of gambling.
As gambling online, or iGaming, as it has come to be known, initially appeared on the market, the majority of platforms concentrated on poker-related games and competitions. Online poker swiftly progressed from being a joke to one that is taken very seriously, and many gamblers are now recognized more for their online gambling career than their daily job at land based casinos.
The popularity of online poker has resulted in the establishment of numerous online casinos offering a variety of games. Most websites offer titles such as poker, roulette, blackjack, slots, and a variety of other casino games.
But first, let’s have a glance at a couple of the top frequently played titles in casinos today, both offline and online.
Slots/Casino Titles
Casino gambling is frequently included in with a broader “betting” category which comprises bingo and lotteries. However, casino gambling has increased from 32% in 2007 to 35.1% in 2013.
According to available documented data from the United States casino guests, almost fifty percent (precisely 48%) played slots, with only 16% opting for blackjack and 6% enjoying poker. Roulette accounted for only 5% of all popular games.
The rise of smartphone and internet slots has resulted in some big jackpots. Progressive jackpots have been accountable for some life-altering triumphs with players winning rewards ranging from $5 to $7 million in recent years.
Sports betting
Sports betting is a multibillion-dollar enterprise on a global scale. Nevertheless, due to Asia’s ungoverned sports betting sector, the industry in its entirety could be worthy of many billions and more. Illicit gambling gangs in China and anywhere else have caused fortunes to be made and lost on sporting occasions.
In the global market as a whole, organized sports betting generated $58 billion.
Poker
Since its peak in the early 2000s, online poker has grown in popularity. The suspension of US-facing websites has resulted in a decrease in online activity. Even in licensed markets, online poker statistics are down. This coincides with an overall increase in the number of players wagering in live cardrooms.
The biggest prizes are still being awarded, with the World Series of Poker main event winner taking home between $7 and $10 million. The most popular tournaments online draw enough participants to give out million-dollar prizes.
Lottery
Lotteries are permitted in numerous nations, including those that prohibit conventional sports betting and casino-style gambling. According to the EGBA, lotteries’ percentage of total online gaming was predicted to expand to 4% in 2016 from 2.3% in the year 2013.
The National Lottery in the United Kingdom raises money for charitable organizations while also providing participants with the opportunity to win large sums of money. Lottery awards increased by 22% from 2012 to 2015, from £3.38 billion in 2012 to £4.13 billion in the year 2015.
Bingo
It is believed that there are currently around 100 million internet bingo participants worldwide, with 70-80% of them being women around the ages of 30 and 50. In 2015, the online bingo sector’s yearly gross-gaming revenue from United Kingdom gamblers was £128.64 million, accounting for three percent of the total online gambling market share.
The Ultimate iGaming Formula
The gaming sector is presently flourishing, as seen by the data. The volume of gamers anteing up is certainly on the rise, from the live casino in Canada to the internet gambling industry in Spain.
While the worldwide economic downturn and legislative difficulties have slowed the growth of the gambling industry over the past decade, the entire balance sheet remains positive. Indeed, as we look to the future, technological advancements that include mobile casinos, games with live dealers, and, hopefully, virtual reality are assisting in raising yearly earnings to record levels.
Hence, if you’re an operator, a gambler, or just an individual who likes digits, the gambling industry keeps demonstrating that it represents one of the world’s fastest growing entertainment markets.
Forecasting the Future of Global Gambling industry
There is possibly not a sector worldwide nowadays that can equal the enormous expansion and intensity of the online gaming industry. Globally, creative thinking is gaining ground, with a greater number of businesses than ever fighting for gamblers awareness and more individuals staking bet as a result of this.
Given the present predicament of global gambling, all parties are anticipating what lies ahead. However, as the majority will concur, forecasting the near future of the gambling industry is a challenging endeavor. To help clarify the situation, we’ve split down all of the information to offer you an insight into what’s to come.
Set to exceed $635 billion
The incredible worth of the casino sector in 2017 is instantly obvious, with an estimated worth of $635 billion in the subsequent years. To dig deeper into this statistic, consider the two key factors involved in the rise of casino gaming: the United States of America and the United Kingdom, respectively.
Cash earnings in the USA are projected to be in the range of $21.14 billion, while online gambling turnover in the United Kingdom is projected to amount to $4 billion. The above two estimates together should account for a 5.7 percent increase in the global gaming market share by 2022.
The rise of casino gambling as a whole has been enormous, but almost entirely in the internet sector. Physical casino gambling is still on the decline, with the exception of a few chosen places, as it has been in the past few years. We are able to predict that when new internet markets emerge, the online casino business will continue to overwhelm brick and mortal enterprises.
Europe Sets the Standard
Europe is the world’s biggest market for gambling via the internet, which should come as no surprise to anyone at all. Around the entire world, the European market accounted for 47.6% of the estimated €34.6 billion in online gambling gross win (wagers less payouts) brought about in the year 2015. Although the efficacy of online gambling within Europe is widely recognized, what has enabled the continent to be regarded as the market leader in gambling is its level of creativity, especially via its development of lucrative casino platforms.
However, given the relatively delicate condition of the European Union’s affairs since Brexit, concerns have been brought up in regards to how protectionism for the economy might affect gambling across the continent in the coming years.
The Might of Macau
Macau’s gambling behaviors have traditionally been noticeable and data indicates that the practice of gambling on the Chinese coasts is only increasing. Macau casino gaming revenue continues to expand at a steady 1.1% yearly. This sets Macau on track to exceed its previous gross gaming revenue objectives.
In accordance with the latest information, the projections for the coming years might reach $53 billion, because of facilities, attendance, and higher expenditure trends. According to experts, the standard of development can only get better, as over eighty percent of the projected earnings will originate through the mainstream customer category.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which connected Macau and HK areas with the municipality of Zhuhai on China’s mainland, opened in 2018. The city’s Hengqin island also went on its massive growth task, with the goal of transforming the whole interconnected territory a global center of tourism, recreation, and gambling. In the years to come, it is believed that there will be clarification on license renewal, and development capital expenditure.
Australia’s Expanding Footprint
Examining at the situation of global gaming by nation, the gambling rates in the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, and China are well-established. What will be less evident is Australia’s role in the sector’s expansion. According to figures, the median loss per gambler in Australia exceeds those in other countries, coming in at just under $1,000. Singapore ranks second on this list, with a median loss of $650 per adult.
With Australian gamers eager to bet with more than average sums of spare money, Australia will undoubtedly play a role in the coming years of gambling at online casinos.
Female Gamblers on the Rise
Aside from countries advancement, an additional significant issue that requires to be focused on is the proportion of females who gamble just as females partake in eSports, as they are currently taking an increasing part in revenue margins compared to ever before. According to UKGC’s figures, women currently comprise almost 40% of the total gambling activity in the UK.
Women have always considered bingo to be common, but evidence shows that many are increasingly shifting to other games – notably slots – as each year passes.
Is gambling a viable option for making extra money?
For every game that engaged in at any casino as gamblers, there is a statistical risk of losing money, making gambling an unsuitable alternative for anyone wanting to supplement their earnings. Although the house edge varies depending on the game in question, it ultimately ensures that the casino does not lose money over the course of time. Although gambling can be enjoyable, it is not in your greatest financial well-being to bet.
What is the business model of casinos?
The handle is the primary way that casinos gain money. The handle is the most crucial component of the gaming platform, irrespective of the game. The handle is the sum that has been wagered by gamblers. In table games, such as craps, all punters place their wagers in the handle, which is composed of either real money or chips. The money might go in either direction; the player may either win or lose the bet.
Although casinos make revenue through dining, entertainment, and various other means, the games are the sector’s mainstay. Each year, a major amount of casino revenues are derived from the accumulation of all casino customer losses.
Is it true that playing more increases your chances of winning?
The probabilities for every bet have been positioned to the advantage of the casino. This implies that the longer you play, the further the computation works against you, and the more likely it is that you will leave the casino with fewer bucks in your purse than when you entered.
