As the European gambling industry continues to expand and evolve across both land-based and online sectors, understanding the scale and structure of its largest markets is essential for players, operators, and policy-makers alike. This report transitions from a broad overview of the European landscape to a detailed analysis of market leaders across both land-based and online Gross Gaming Revenue.
The publication utilises data from the European Gaming and Betting Association’s European Gambling Market – Key Figures 2025 Edition to provide a comprehensive analysis. Furthermore, it focuses specifically on Europe’s five largest gambling markets: Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain.
Relying on official regulatory and government statistics, we examine some of the key characteristics of these markets and compare them to provide readers with insights into their size, governing bodies, and regulatory frameworks. We pay special attention to Italy and the United Kingdom – the two clear frontrunners in retail and online revenue.
Methodology
This report evaluates the size of Europe’s five largest gambling markets using Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) as the primary metric. GGR represents the total amount retained by gambling operators after paying out player winnings, but before taxes and other operating expenses are deducted. In simple terms, it is calculated as the total amount wagered minus the winnings paid to players. As a standard industry benchmark, GGR enables consistent cross-country comparisons. While GGR is used broadly, the term Gross Gaming Yield (GGY) is used in official Great Britain gambling industry statistics.
The analysis relies exclusively on official statistics and publications issued by EGBA and the national gambling regulators and relevant government authorities in the five largest markets. The most recent fully published annual data available at the time of writing have been used, depending on the reporting framework of each jurisdiction.
Where necessary, figures reported in national currencies (GBP in the United Kingdom) have been converted into EUR to facilitate comparability. Currency conversions are based on the applicable annual average exchange rate for the reporting year. Currency conversions in this report are based on the 2024 HMRC average exchange rate of €1.1789 per £1.
The report ranks Europe’s five largest gambling markets primarily by total GGR. Additional comparative indicators include the share of online versus land-based gambling in the top five largest gambling markets, as well as a detailed breakdown of remote and non-remote GGR for the region’s two largest markets: Italy and the United Kingdom.
EGBA’s 2025 Report on the European Gambling Market: Highlights
Let us first step back and provide an overview of the state of the European Gambling Market. Data is sourced from the European Gaming and Betting Association’s (EGBA) European Gambling Market – Key Figures 2025 Edition. The report examines revenues, products, and national trends across the EU countries and the UK. It has been accomplished in partnership with H2 Gambling Capital, a leading betting and gaming consultancy company.
In 2024, the total Gross Gaming Revenue of the European gambling market stood at €123.4 billion, reflecting a 5% increase from 2023. While land-based gaming still accounted for €75.5 billion, the surge in online gaming and betting, amounting to €47.9 billion, reflected a general shift to digitalisation.
Lotteries remain the undisputed leader of land-based gambling, bringing in €30.9 billion in-person compared to just €7.1 billion online. Casino games show the opposite tendency, as they have found a massive digital audience, with €21.5 billion in online revenue compared to €8.5 billion spent in physical casinos. Out of the total sports and events betting revenue (€20.1 billion), €13.7 billion is generated online. Gaming machines, where revenue is exclusively land-based, account for €24.9 billion.
Gross Gaming Revenue (€bn) by Product
Data Sources: EGBA
Leading Land-Based Products by Revenue Share (2024)
As indicated above, traditional lotteries lead the European land-based market, with a dominant 41% share of total revenue. Gaming machines rank second, with 33% of the market, respectively. Physical casinos and sportsbooks combined control 20% of retail revenue, while horse racing and bingo represent the niche segments.
Data Sources: EGBA
Leading Online Products by Revenue Share (2024)
In the online gambling sector, casino games are the clear favourite, accounting for 45% of Europe’s online revenue in 2024. Sports and events betting ranks second at 29%, whereas online lotteries make up 15% of the market. Horse racing (5%), poker (3%), and bingo (3%) represent the niche markets.
Data Sources: EGBA
Overview of the Regulatory Bodies in Europe’s Five Largest Markets
Understanding the institutional framework of each jurisdiction is essential for interpreting market size, licensing models, and reporting standards. The table below outlines the primary regulatory authority responsible for overseeing gambling activities in each of the five largest European markets.
| Country | Regulator | Official Website | Regulatory Responsibilities | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) – The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) | https://www.adm.gov.it/portale/en/home | Oversees gambling activities alongside excise duties and customs; manages licensing and enforcement of gambling operations. | Europe’s largest land-based market, driven by a massive retail lottery and Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) network. |
| UK | UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) | https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/ | Regulates commercial gambling and the National Lottery in Great Britain, ensuring consumer protection and compliance. | The most mature online market, with online gaming accounting for 46% of total revenue. |
| Germany | Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder(GGL) – Germany’s Federal Gambling Authority | https://www.gluecksspielwesen.de/ | The central authority responsible for licensing and supervising gambling under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling. | The focus is on “channelling” players away from the illegal market, which still holds a 25% share of the online market. |
| France | Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) – the French National Gaming Authority | https://www.anj.fr/ | Regulates all forms of gambling, including online betting, lotteries, and horse racing. | Sports betting reached record highs in 2024, driven by the Paris Olympics. |
| Spain | Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) – Spain’s General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling | https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/ | Supervises and licenses online gambling operators at the national level; regional authorities oversee certain land-based activities. | The online gambling sector is growing at a record rate of 17.6% annually, as per data from 2024. |
GGR Comparison of Europe’s Five Largest Gambling Markets
The table below compares the total Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reported by the official gambling regulator in each jurisdiction. Figures reflect the most recent fully published annual data available at the time of writing.
| Rank | Country | Total GGR (Local Currency) | Total GGR (EUR) | Reporting Period | Change compared to the previous reporting period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | €21.5 billion | €21.5 billion | 2024 | 4.38% increase compared to 2023 | Online share: €5 billion (17% rise);
Land-based share: €16.5 billion (steady rise) |
| 2 | United KIngdom | £16.8 billion | €19.80 billion | Financial year April 2024 to March 2025 | 7.3% increase from April 2023 to March 2024 | The total GGY (£16.8 billion) includes other sectors such as lotteries. |
| 3 | Germany | €14.4 billion | €14.4 billion | 2024 Activity Report | 5.0% increase compared to the previous reporting period | GGL highlights the share of the illegal online market, amounting to 25%. |
| 4 | France | €14.0 billion | €14.0 billion | 2024 | 4.7% increase from 2023 | The increase is largely driven by growth in the sports betting sector. |
| 5 | Spain | €1.45 billion (online segment) | €1.45 billion | 2024 | 17.61% year-on-year increase | In Spain, DGOJ has exclusive authority over all online gambling. Land-based gambling is regulated by the autonomous regions, and the total Spanish market is estimated at approximately €8.1 billion in total value. |
Italy currently leads Europe’s regulated gambling sector by total GGR, followed by the United Kingdom. Germany and France report comparable market sizes, while Spain shows steady growth.
Breakdown by Land-Based vs Online Share in Europe’s Top Five Gambling Markets
Online share is the proportion of total GGR generated online, based on national regulator breakdowns. As noted in the table above, Spain’s official DGOJ data is for the online segment only.
Breakdown by Land-Based vs Online Share
Important Notes to Take into Account
- Italy
In 2024, Italy’s GGR reached €21.5 billion, marking a 4.4% increase compared to the previous year. This growth was primarily fueled by the online sector, which surged 17% to €5 billion, while land-based revenue remained stable at €16.5 billion. Total stakes for the 12 months amounted to €157.5 billion, with €92 billion wagered online, compared to €65 billion in physical venues.
- The United Kingdom
The UK’s gambling industry reached a total Gross Gaming Yield (GGY) of £16.8 billion (€19.80 billion) in the year ending March 2025. Online gambling, which includes casinos, sports betting, and bingo, has brought in £7.8 billion (€9.20 billion). In contrast, traditional land-based venues, like arcades, betting shops, casinos, and bingo, generated £4.8 billion (€5.65 billion). The total (£16.8 billion, or €19.80 billion) includes other sectors such as lotteries. However, for a direct comparison of online and land-based gambling, we compare remote and land-based GGY, excluding lotteries.
- Germany
Germany’s gambling regulator, the GGL, reported a 5% year-on-year increase in licensed market revenue for 2024, totalling €14.4 billion. Despite the growth, enforcement remains the top priority. The GGL initiated 231 prohibition orders and leveraged the Digital Services Act to block over 1,000 illegal sites. Furthermore, new Google advertising restrictions have successfully reduced the visibility of unlicensed operators, who still account for 25% of the online market. The next phase of GGL’s strategy involves implementing “safe servers” for real-time monitoring to ensure the legal market continues to curb illegal competition.
- France
France’s gambling market reached a record €14.0 billion in 2024, a 4.7% year-on-year increase. Growth was primarily fueled by the online sector, which surged 12% to €2.6 billion, with sports betting accounting for 43% of the market’s overall expansion.
- Spain
Spain’s online gambling market reached a record €1.45 billion in GGR for 2024, marking a 17.61% year-on-year increase. Both deposits and withdrawals indicated an upward trend compared to the previous year, up 19.62% and 19.73%, respectively. This surge was supported by a 21.71% increase in active gamblers, totalling 1,992,889 users. Online casinos led the market with €730.71 million in revenue (representing 50.23% of the total). Sports betting ranked second with €608.85 million (41.86%). Poker generated €100.08 million (6.88%), whereas Bingo brought in €14.94 million (1.06%).
Key Takeaways
- The United Kingdom features a share of online gaming revenue significantly higher compared to the other four largest markets.
- Italy represents Europe’s largest gambling market, with a predominantly land-based character. In Germany, France, and Spain, the bigger portion of revenue comes from land-based gaming too. In the following section, we present our readers with further details regarding Italy’s land-based sector for 2024 and a breakdown of the UK’s GGY from the remote sector for the last reporting period from April 2024 to March 2025.
GGR of Italy’s Non-Remote Sector
Italy’s gambling market remains heavily weighted toward land-based venues, though the digital sector is rapidly expanding. In 2024, land-based GGR reached approximately €16.5 billion, accounting for roughly 76% of the total market. In contrast, online GGR contributed approximately €5 billion, representing the remaining 24% of the national revenue.
The Italian land-based gambling sector is a diverse ecosystem dominated by gaming machines, specifically AWP (Amusement with Prize) and VLT (Video Lottery Terminals), and supported by a robust network of retail sports betting and lotteries. For a detailed breakdown of the land-based sector, see the table and pie chart below.
| Sub-Sector | GGR in Billions (EUR) | Market Share |
|---|---|---|
| Betting | €1.5 billion | 9.09% |
| Gaming | €8.8 billion | 53.33% |
| Lottery | €6.2 billion | 37.58% |
| Total | €16.5 billion | 100% |
GGR of Italy’s Non-Remote Sector
Data Sources: H2 Gambling Capital Reports
GGY of the UK’s Remote Sector
The table and pie chart below present data sourced from the UK’s Gambling Commission on the gambling industry GGY of the remote sector for the period spanning April 2024 to March 2025. Figures are converted from GBP to EUR to facilitate comparability, as explained earlier in this report.
| Sub-Sector | GGY in Billions (GBP) | GGY in Billions (EUR) | Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino | £5.0 billion | €5.90 billion | 64.2% |
| Betting | £2.6 billion | €3.07 billion | 33.7% |
| Bingo | £0.17 billion | €0.20 billion | 2.1% |
| Total | £7.8 billion | €9.17 billion | 100% |
Percentage of online GGY
Data Sources: UKGC
The United Kingdom has maintained its position as Europe’s premier digital gambling hub, leading the continent in the remote casino, betting, and bingo sectors. With a total online Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) of €9.20 billion (converted from £7.8 billion), the UK’s digital market significantly outpaces major European markets such as Italy and Germany. This dominance is driven by high digital adoption and a robust regulatory framework. The surge reflects the UK’s shift toward remote platforms, which now account for nearly half of the nation’s total gambling revenue.
Conclusion
Europe’s gambling market is at a crossroads, with total revenue reaching €123.4 billion in 2024. While Italy remains the overall leader, with a €16.5 billion from the land-based sector, the UK has solidified its status as the digital frontrunner with €9.20 billion from the online segment. As the industry evolves, regulators are shifting their focus toward the digital sector to ensure a secure environment. Promoting player channellisation to legal sites has become a top priority, with authorities like Germany’s GGL and France’s ANJ implementing stricter advertising rules and enforcement actions to make illegal business models unviable.