The European online gambling market size reached USD 43.0 billion (circa EUR 41.0 billion) last year, and is expected to reach USD 76.7 billion (approximately EUR 73 billion) by 2033.
The wide availability of online casino games, and accessibility of online gambling as compared to traditional gambling, are some of the key factors driving this market growth.
In addition, online gambling offers unparalleled convenience for players, allowing them to access a wide range of betting options from the comfort of their homes. The 24/7 availability of online gambling platforms makes it highly accessible to a broad audience.
The rising innovations in online gambling, continued adoption of smartphones, advanced internet facilities, and rapid digitalisation, are stimulating market growth.
Moreover, many European countries have implemented legal frameworks to regulate online gambling, providing a clear legal environment for operators and players alike, thereby bolstering the European online gaming market size.
Widespread adoption of mobile gambling, live dealer games, and esports betting are expected to proliferate the market growth. In addition, some online gambling operators are exploring the integration of cryptocurrencies as payment options.
As per the European online gambling market outlook, sports betting holds a significant share of the European online gambling market. Its popularity stems from several factors, including the widespread appeal of sports, the excitement of predicting outcomes, and the accessibility of online platforms.
According to European market statistics, the United Kingdom has acquired the largest share of the online gambling market. The reason may be that the UK has a well-established regulatory framework for online gambling, which provides a secure and transparent environment for operators and players. Regulation instills confidence among consumers, which in turn encourages growth in the market.
A report published by the European Commission in May 2024, estimates that internet users in Europe reached 91% in 2023, up from 67% in 2010. Moreover, in Europe, nearly 74 million people are expected to use online gambling services by 2029.
Approximately 459 million smartphone subscriptions were registered in Europe in 2023 and this number is expected to increase. With mobile-friendly websites and dedicated gambling apps, players can enjoy their favourite games anytime, anywhere, further driving the growth of the online gambling market.
Increasing internet accessibility is part of broader digitalisation trends across various industries, including entertainment and leisure activities like gambling. As consumers become more accustomed to engaging with digital platforms for entertainment purposes, online gambling stands to benefit from this shift in consumer behaviour. These factors are further bolstering the European online gambling market revenue.
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Most players nowadays want access to their games at any time and place, so game developers and online casinos started massively optimising their games for mobile devices, with their websites available on all devices and platforms to maximise the potential audience group.
The EU's Global Gateway plan intends to invest €300 billion in infrastructure development worldwide by 2027, including high-speed internet connections. The development of powerful smartphones coupled with faster internet services, has made it possible for players to enjoy a wide range of gambling experiences.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have transformed every industry possible, and the iGaming world is no exception. Artificial Intelligence will continue to be employed to improve data analysis, enhance player experiences, and detect fraudulent activity.
Whilst all these advancements in iGaming technologies have enabled the online gambling industry to develop rapidly, this rapid expansion has raised some concerns regarding player protection and security.
Against such a backdrop of fast-paced technological advancements, it has become clear that the security of the online gambling community needs to be prioritised.
Despite regulatory challenges, the European online gambling market continues to grow, driven by the increasing consumer demand for online gambling options. As more countries legalise online gambling, there are several online gambling market opportunities in Europe for operators to expand their market reach and capture new customers.
As the demand for trust and transparency in online gaming grows, Gamecheck is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of fair and secure online gambling.
Those reputable iGaming platforms aiming for success in this exciting market must consider implementing all the advanced security measures recommended by regulators to protect their customers, as it is the right direction toward ensuring player loyalty and cultivating a safe and secure iGaming ecosystem for all.
Shielding players from harmful content involves reactive measures like detecting, actioning, and reporting abuse, as well as proactive strategies such as user verification, and proactive threat detection.
The anonymity of the internet has allowed online scammers to set up fake casinos, luring players into scams. These fraudulent platforms offer unauthorised versions of popular games, compromising fairness and diminishing player trust.
Engaging with these fake sites can raise data security concerns. Players' personal and financial information is vulnerable to breaches on unsecured or unscrupulous sites. These fake sites lack regulation and oversight, their terms and conditions are often dubious, game outcomes are unfair, and any form of dispute resolution is close to impossible since they are not regulated.
Gamecheck's simplicity is genius. There is no need to take several screenshots or enter complicated data into the system. Simply by entering an online casino's URL, players will receive immediate feedback on its authenticity or otherwise. The Gamecheck platform has been designed with a focus on ease of use.
Gamecheck’s comprehensive database can be accessed by simply typing or pasting an online casino’s domain URL, receiving instantaneous results regarding the online casino’s games offering.
The difference from other game verification tools is that Gamecheck provides a One Stop Shop for players to check multiple game suppliers through one URL lookup. The information gathered on rogue online casinos from different partners provides a more comprehensive overview of those sites that are offering fake games.
Gamecheck’s team consists of professionals with diverse expertise, who help to monitor and investigate online casinos to determine whether they are offering real games from legitimate game providers, and ensure that they are not defrauding players and game providers by offering fake games.
When the Gamecheck team finds a site offering fake games from one game supplier, there is a strong probability that it will be offering fake content from other providers as well. This shared overview helps us direct our verification investigations in a more targeted manner, benefiting those operators who are offering the real deal.
Through our collaborative efforts with legitimate game providers, and leveraging the expertise of our global team, we strive to empower players with the information they need to make informed decisions about where to play.
Our verification process follows a structured, multi-step approach that includes analysing unique identifiers on genuine games, tracking game launch URLs, and liaising with game providers to confirm that our findings are accurate before we publish the results.
Players can report a suspicious casino by submitting a report via the Gamecheck website and/or by using our social media platforms such as our Instagram DMs. They will be able to copy-paste a URL and receive a ping back of the results.
If it is not in our database then players still have the chance to submit an official report. Players who suspect that the online casino they are engaging with offers fake games can submit a request on the Request Verification page.
When a website is flagged for review via the Request Verification page, Gamecheck will collect evidence and information to help you confirm whether the games offered on the reported online casino are real or fake.
During the investigation, the online casino’s profile page on the Gamecheck website will state “Pending Checks” and once the investigation is complete, the online casino’s profile page will be updated accordingly, and either labelled as “Real Games" in operation when no evidence of fake games has been identified or “Fake Games" detected when evidence of fake games has been identified.
Gamecheck’s findings are then shared with the game providers concerned who validate or dispute such findings, and the casino is either flagged or cleared.
Finally, status updates are provided on Gamecheck’s platform and social media.
Transparency is maintained through the publication of reports detailing verified and fake casinos, including case studies and breakdowns of previous investigations to demonstrate our rigorous process.
The Gamecheck team updates users directly through direct communication with players and operators on flagged cases and keeps them in the loop via weekly Instagram Stories & LinkedIn posts with investigation updates.
By flagging these fake games, Gamecheck helps to protect players as well as safeguard the reputation of genuine game providers.
By proactively blacklisting these URLs, and by naming and shaming these rogue casinos we aim to redirect players towards real sites.
Before signing up or depositing money into an online casino, players can check whether the platform is Gamecheck-verified. At Gamecheck, we prioritise the players’ peace of mind by verifying whether the games they enjoy are authentic games sourced from legitimate game providers.
Consequently, Gamecheck also helps online casinos build a stronger connection of trust with players by verifying that the games they offer are real and tested games sourced from legitimate game providers. We are currently finalising a seal of authenticity to be offered to operators that have been confirmed as offering genuine content.
The presence of the Gamecheck Seal will reassure players that they are engaging with a real online casino and playing real games. Online casinos that receive the Gamecheck Seal, will be confirmed as being trustworthy sites that offer real games, thus setting themselves apart from other deceptive sites.
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As the iGaming industry expands, innovation and adaptability are key to staying ahead. Responsible gambling not only builds trust with players but also strengthens brand reputation and loyalty.
Gamecheck’s comprehensive verification tool is set to be a gamechanger, enhancing industry-wide trust. Our upcoming Gamecheck Seal serves as a mark of authenticity, ensuring players access real games while operators demonstrate their commitment to a reliable and secure gaming environment.
Prioritising player protection is essential for the industry's longevity and profitability. By uniting online casinos and game providers within this trusted network, we can shield players from fraudulent websites, foster industry integrity, and support the long-term success of real and trusted online casinos worldwide.
