The United States has officially retained its title as the biggest market for both online and land-based casinos. Not only does gambling generate over $130 million in revenue for the American economy, but the country is home to the world’s largest casino company, the Las Vegas Sands. Last year, its revenue was $12.88 billion, according to SIS International researchers.
The market research firm was recently tasked with analyzing gambling markets in four countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. The collected data was outlined in a report called Online Gambling: Trends & Findings.
With 19.3 million active casino players, Canada is the eighth biggest online gaming market.
According to the report, the US is expected to grow its gambling market by more than 14% annually, reaching $274 billion in revenue by the end of 2025. Compared to the other three markets, it’s definitely the biggest. Germany’s online gambling market earns €13.9 billion per year, Canada’s generates CAD 21 billion, while the UK’s market brings in £5.4 billion.
For Brits, much of the action takes place on slot sites. There are more than 20 million active players at online casinos each week, most of them people older than 50. They collectively spend £1.5 billion a year playing slots, usually on one to three sites, and there are 31 million people who play online casino games.
Across the Atlantic, a typical gambler is between 45 and 55 years old, male, and usually plays the lottery. Of those surveyed for the report, 40% said that they played at a land-based casino at least once a month, while 59% prefer online casinos. As for sports betting, only 36% of respondents said they placed bets on American football within the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, only 46% of surveyed Germans said they gambled online recently, but the most common fans of casinos are much younger than in other countries; they’re mostly Millennials. National lottery draws are the most popular gambling activity among Germans, followed by football betting. Only 23% of respondents said they played casino games in the last 12 months.
Finally, the report asks why people gamble. Perhaps unsurprisingly, in all four countries, most do it to win money. Some play for fun, and others seek the thrill of gambling games. Players choose their betting sites and casinos based on welcome bonuses or recommendations from friends. Social media also plays an important role in promoting casino offers.
