The global online casino market will be worth $102.9 billion by 2025. This projected value is the culmination of the 11.5 percent CAGR the industry has been experiencing since 2019. By 2030, it should rise to $182.2 billion, with a CAGR of 11.8 percent between 2022 and then. Of this amount, between 70 to 80 percent will come from mobile casinos and casino apps. Players have steadily embraced mobile gaming over the past decade, establishing and maintaining the sector’s dominance in the industry. Below, we look at this market and its future going into 2025.
What is driving the casino app market?
Over 85 percent of players who access online casino games do so through their phones, specifically through the Betway app and similar casino applications. This number was just 57 percent in 2019 and 71 percent in 2022, which means if everything remains constant, it will grow in 2025. But what exactly is driving the growth in the casino app market?
It comes down to several factors. First and most important is increased internet and mobile phone penetration. Between 2024 and 2029, the number of people who use mobile phones is expected to grow by 1.8 billion. The number currently is 4.88 billion, rising by 133 percent in 2024. As more people access smartphones and the internet, they gain the two most crucial tools for online gaming. They discover online casinos and the convenience of online casino apps.
What are the opportunities for growth for the casino app market in 2025?
In 2025, growth in the casino app market will come from somewhere else. The opportunities for growth in the sector moving forward are:
Game development technology
Game development is automating at an unprecedented rate. With automation systems taking over parts of the development process, like design and testing, you can focus on user experiences and generate enjoyable games faster and for less.
Growing gamer community
There’s also a growing need among online casino players to interact with each other. To capitalize on the growing gamer community, you must integrate social features into your casino apps. These include online chat rooms, multiplayer options, and leaderboards.
What challenges does the casino app market face?
But the online casino app market is not a foolproof sector. Some of the challenges derailing growth for top operators include:
- Varying regulatory frameworks and stiff noncompliance penalties
- Cybersecurity risks like phishing, data theft, and ransomware
- High competition from the large number of casino apps in the market
To overcome the cybersecurity risks, you and your developers must bolster their security systems with encryption software, firewalls, and anti-malware. Strengthening KYC protocols may also improve security while helping you maintain industry compliance.
Competition-wise, standing out in the crowded casino app market requires offering unique experiences. In 2025, this comes down to localizing your content to match your players’ experiences, beliefs, and languages, personalizing in-app experiences, and offering social features.
Wrapping up, what next?
Despite the challenges of developing, launching, and maintaining an online casino app, operators like Betway have been doing it successfully for several years. The secret lies in balancing evolving player needs with technological advancements. The casino apps of the future are not just digitized versions of Las Vegas lobbies; they are immersive environments that offer secure connections, a wide variety of casino games, addiction support, live betting experiences, and personalized rewards.
