Growth is something the iGaming sector has grappled with for some time now. Yet as mature markets slow, where will the next boost come from in the industry?
Not all iGaming growth is created equal. Headline revenue figures can look healthy while masking a patchwork of stagnating incumbents and quietly surging newcomers, making it genuinely difficult to identify where the next meaningful expansion is coming from. Certain factors, such as disposable income and compliance, also play a huge part in how this plays out. Data is one way to tell us where the next growth story will come from.
The Varied Global Markets
Global markets can be broken down into various market types. Mature ones are those that have had regulated and licensed systems in place for some time. They include Europe and the US, where most laws and decisions have been formulated regarding how iGaming should operate. They are often data-rich countries.
Alongside this are markets that are less clear-cut. In these instances, people use offshore providers. While they were once slightly dubious, competition has meant many have the same high standards for quality games, customer service and security as those found in regulated territories. Voltrush is one of these operators, serving players in Australia.
Added to this are emerging markets. These are areas just formulating their online casino laws and regulations. It is these where data starts to become available, as regulatory bodies track the impact of changes. These tell us some of the most poignant pieces of information about the global markets.
Mature Market Slowdowns
Optimove is a tracker for the iGaming industry. It releases regular reports on the sector, and in its December 2025 release, it highlighted how US online casino activity had dropped over the previous 12 months. This was despite a period of growth across the globe. Average bet sizes contracted in the time period, going from $6,121 after a previous average of $7,638. The number of players also fell, with 86% of the previous year's player numbers remaining.
Why the US casino industry is slowing was not highlighted. Job growth was down in this period, and it was the era in which tariffs created uncertainty in the US economy. All of this could have played a part, causing people to reduce their spending on entertainment products.
Europe remains a tricky one to calculate, as it has so many countries in various stages of development. Some, such as Poland, offer one state-backed monopoly. Other countries, like France, have a blanket ban. Alongside this are mature markets like the United Kingdom that continue to grow. According to the Guardian newspaper in a 2025 article titled ‘UK gambling firms make extra £1bn from punters amid calls for tax rises’, they highlighted how there had been a 15% increase in gross gambling yield from online casino players, and it was a 55% rate higher than in 2020.
Yet contrast this with a country such as the Netherlands. Increased know your customer checks have contributed to a reduction in its channelisation rate. This is a measurement of how many people use its domestic licensed casinos, and those that go offshore. Combined with stricter deposit limits, in the first quarter of 2025, this dropped to 49%. It was the first time offshore gambling had overtaken legal gambling in history.
Global Growth
In the aforementioned Optimove study, it was also noticed that growth did occur globally. There was an 8% increase in player numbers worldwide. The average bet size also grew from $1,343 to $1,359, a small but positive increase. A further study by the Market.US publication in Nov 2025 showed just how big this global growth could be in the run-up to 2030.
Areas of Growth
Areas of growth tend to have some similarities. These include increased smartphone adoption, rising rates of internet connectivity and access to online payment infrastructures. All are essential for iGaming to function correctly. These nations also need to develop a strong employment sector that is provided with a disposable income.
Primarily, these emerging economies are coming from the Latin America and Africa regions, with some in the Pacific and Asia regions. Take, for example, Peru, which recently introduced its Law No. 31557. It came into being in 2024 and is still rolling out. This saw the introduction of a regulated sports betting and iGaming market. It now had 60 registered digital platforms, with 280 service providers.
In the African region, countries like Ghana are also experiencing growth. This began to pick up in 2025 after reforms to taxation and compliance. Yet this was then met with increased verification methods and rising operator costs. This playing field is still levelling out, and once it does, small changes will undoubtedly be made that will see it grow and mature.
When it comes to Australia, data is hard to come by. Online casinos are not allowed in the country, so many people go offshore. This makes quality information hard to come by. It also seems that this is not going to change in the near future, as the government has recently announced its intent to introduce stricter rules for onshore gambling.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted in April 2026, in an article by the BBC titled “Australia to crack down on gambling ads after years of criticism”, that a crackdown on advertising would begin. He noted, "Letting adults have a punt if they want to, but making sure our children don't see betting ads everywhere they look." This outlook was backed by the Alliance for Gambling Reform. Their spokesperson, Reverend Tim Costello, added that "Australian children deserve to grow up in a country that puts their wellbeing before corporate profits."
The Impact of Slowing Markets
For those in markets slowing down, the key to growth no longer comes from the games they bring. Instead, the focus is on operational efficiency. This could include factors such as:
- Cutting out inefficiencies such as non-converting bonus offers
- Reducing games that do not bring in customers
- Better resource management for in-house staff
- Introducing automation
- Streamlining workflows
- Reassessing customer end value
In many ways, this has already begun in the most modern online casinos. Operators such as Voltrush illustrate what this shift looks like in practice. Streamlined customer service, clearly structured bonuses, and a leaner games offering reflect the kind of operational focus that tends to perform well in competitive markets.
Responsible Gambling – Gambling should be done by those who are 18+ only. This is a form of entertainment, and not a way to make money. Only gamble what you can afford to lose and don’t chase losses. If gambling is becoming a problem, use tools like limits and self-exclusion and seek third-party help.