According to end-of-year data published by the European Gaming and Betting Association, Europe’s online gambling market is expected to be accelerated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, along with the use of mobile devices.
In partnership with H2 Gambling Capital, the data release, covering EU-27 and UK markets, includes information about Europe’s gambling market revenues, regulated market shares, popular online gambling products, and various information about national gambling markets.
The report predicts that by 2026, online GGR is expected to reach 41 per cent of Europe’s total gambling revenue, up from a 26 per cent share in 2019.
Another trend expected to continue is the increasing use of mobile devices, such as phones and tablets for online gambling, with the share of bets from mobile devices this year set to account for 50.5 per cent of Europe’s online bets for the first time, with the EGBA expecting this number to reach 61.5 per cent of all online bets by 2026.
Commenting on the data report, Maarten Haijer, secretary general at the EGBA, said: “The growth trend of Europe’s online gambling market continues but there remains significant room for online development in markets such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, where the online share of the total gambling market is still relatively low despite the online markets in these countries being relatively mature.
“With continued online growth also comes the responsibility to ensure the online market is well-regulated and operators continue to utilise the latest online technologies to promote a stronger culture of safer gambling.”
The data released also includes information about Europe’s total gambling revenue, which is set to increase by 7.5 per cent in 2021 to €87.2bn GGR, driven by a 19 per cent growth in the online sector totalling €36.4bn GGR.
However, despite this increase, total gambling market revenue is down by 13 per cent compared to 2019 levels as Europe’s land-based gambling sector continues to feel the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.
Also due to pandemic-related restrictions, while Europe’s land-based gambling revenue is expected to increase by 0.4 per cent this year to €50.8bn GGR, land-based revenue is down significantly by 32 per cent compared to 2019 levels.
With EGBA members now accounting for 36 per cent of Europe’s online gambling revenue, the association has also published finalised European market data, for 2020, from its member companies – bet365, Betsson Group, Entain, Flutter, Kindred Group, and William Hill – including information about revenues, products, customers, and licensing in the EU-27 and UK online gambling markets.
