Traditional Casinos Losing Market Share as Online Gambling Surges in Europe, EGBA Report Says

Europe’s gambling market reached €123.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2024, up 5% year-over-year. But the growth story doesn’t apply evenly. Land-based gambling is stalling out. While revenue rose slightly—from €73.3 billion in 2023 to €75.5 billion in 2024—the sector’s overall share of the market dropped again, from 63% to 61%.

This isn’t just noise. The shift is consistent, and it’s accelerating. The latest projections show land-based gambling will drop to 60% in 2025 and keep sliding. By 2029, it’s expected to fall to just 55% of total GGR. That’s a 10-point decline over six years.

Online Gambling Market Share Keeps Rising in Europe

Online gambling accounted for 39% of all GGR in 2024, up from 37% in 2023. It’s on track to hit 40% in 2025 and shows no signs of slowing. The growth is largely driven by mobile, which made up 58% of online GGR last year.

As user habits shift, physical venues, and even computers continue to lose ground. According to the report by the European Gaming & Betting Association, mobile devices will account for 67% of online gambling revenue in 2029 as users look for easier access to casino apps.

Consumers are clearly choosing convenience, anonymity, and always-on access. That leaves traditional casinos and betting shops with a shrinking pool of loyal users and rising operational costs they can’t shed.

Future of Land-Based Casinos Looks Flat

Even with modest revenue gains, land-based operators are falling behind in relevance. The fixed-cost model doesn’t scale, and digital-native competitors move faster and spend smarter. Some brick-and-mortar brands are trying to pivot into hybrid models, but not everyone has the resources to build or buy a competitive online product.

The structural shift is already happening. The question now isn’t when the drop happens—it’s how far it goes, and who’s still left when it does.