Today’s spotlight often falls on well-known sectors like fintech, AI or health-related technology. However, another huge sector that advances its technology at a rapid speed is the iGaming industry. It has been quietly scaling over the past few years into a multi-billion euro growth engine.
Top-tier online casino platforms operate with the same technological advancements as leading Saas providers – yet no recognition is received. This article explores why iGaming technology is one of Europe’s most overlooked innovation hotspots and what that means for investors, startups and the rest of the tech ecosystem.
How Big is the Market?
The iGaming market is growing at insane speed and is showing no signs of slowing down. To illustrate this growth, let’s talk numbers – the market is projected to reach $164.85 billion in revenue by 2025.
Countries like Estonia and Netherlands have been making changes to the gambling advertising policies and attracting global operators. In Sweden, online gambling makes up about 68.3% of the country’s total gambling revenue. Finland and Denmark show online channels dominating the market at 68.1%. On the contrary, Spain only reports 14.2% of gambling revenue coming from online sources. Such a difference shows that players shift towards online gambling is happening at different speeds depending on the country.
Europe’s gambling industry grew significantly in 2024, with total gross gaming revenue climbing to €123.4 billion. A steady 5% rise from €117.5 billion in 2023. A big part of this came from the online casino segment, which generated €47.9 billion and now makes up 39% of the overall market.
The rise in digital gambling is also clearly reflected in the performance of the UK online casinos. In the last quarter of 2024, the market reported a gross gambling yield of £1.54 billion. That’s a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Experts think that this growth is fueled by a surge in online slot players and better user engagement tactics employed by the providers.
The Regulatory Tech In Use
The technology behind the iGaming industry is what is helping to drive this kind of growth you read about in the previous paragraph. Platforms are now faster, more secure and work harder to provide users the best experience.
Because gambling rules are different in each European country, iGaming companies are now using smart technology to help them follow the law and stay compliant. Tools like automated KYC (Know Your Customer) systems, real-time geolocation software, AI-based fraud detection, and age verification tech are now helping to ensure players are who they say they are, play legally and are protected against risky behaviour.
Despite some thinking of them as challenges or obstacles, regulations have pushed the industry to build faster, safer and more advanced systems. What’s especially interesting is that many of these tools started as in-house solutions but have since grown into B2B Saas products. For example, identity verification tools built for online casinos are now used by banks, fintech apps and even crypto platforms.
How iGaming Tech Attracts the Best Talent
The gaming industry isn’t just about gambling and sports betting. It’s also a serious player in Europe’s tech job market. As online platforms become more advanced, companies hire top-tier talent in software development, data science, UX design, and cybersecurity. Many employees who used to work in fintech, Saas or even gaming startups are now moving into iGaming because of the substantial salaries and growing focus on innovation.
Malta has been the iGaming capital for many years, and cities like Tallinn and Stockholm are finally catching up. Here reside growing communities of tech workers and startup founders. In some cases, iGaming has reversed worker migration by bringing skilled workers back to the cities they previously left due to a lack of opportunities. Now, these hubs are spaces where people can build real careers in cutting-edge tech.
So in solving their own compliance and job market problems, iGaming companies have ended up creating powerful tools that help drive innovation across the digital economy. Based on the prognosis, online gaming is projected to grow by 6.9%, compared to just 1.8% for land-based. This data shows us that the iGaming industry isn’t just growing – it’s boldly setting the standard in industries others struggle with. Constant A/B tests, mastering the user experience and personalizing every step of the user journey show that iGaming companies are masters at what they do. The systems they build can handle massive real-time data, support millions of transactions, and adapt to local languages and laws without slowing down.