The online gambling sector has grown year-on-year since the first casino sites launched in the late 90s. From a niche industry powered by fairly rudimentary technology, online gambling is now a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse. According to a recent article published on Scaleo, the iGaming market has grown at an average of 6.4% in recent years. With Statista data showing that industry-wide revenue is set to top $94 billion in 2024, that means 2025 should see online gambling operators generate over $100 billion in 2025.
This makes online gambling bigger in terms of revenue than the cinema sector ($79 billion) and music industry ($28 billion). This level of activity and interest from consumers has created a culture of innovation. With this in mind, we’ve picked out some of the trends that have shaped online gambling in recent years and, moreover, the innovations that will make an impact in 2025.
AI and Security
Security has been a hot topic in online gambling since its inception. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest frontier in cybersecurity on both sides of the divide. Data from Splunk, cited in a report by SOFTSWISS, shows that AI-powered attacks are seen as the latest major threat to online gambling, according to 36% of cybersecurity professionals.
In the same report, stakeholders within the online gambling industry rated the importance of AI and machine learning as 8.2/10. One of the main ways AI is being used to reduce the threat of cyberattacks and increase security within the online gambling industry is data analysis.
AI programs can monitor large datasets in real-time and provide “predictive insights,” according to Balbix. These insights can help avert threats before they emerge. Moreover, they can solve issues faster due to the speed at which data can be analyzed.
Social and Sweepstakes Gaming
Another trend we’re likely to see develop in 2025 is social casino gaming. Although social and sweepstakes online casinos have been around for more than a decade, they’re becoming more prominent in emerging markets. The free-play nature of these sites means they’re more accessible to gambling novices who make up a large percentage of customers in new markets such as South Africa, Japan, and the UAE.
The increasing popularity of free-play casino gaming has bled over into the real-money market. Although not new, no deposit bonuses are gaining popularity. As stated, these offers allow customers (often new customers) to play real money games no deposit required. The novel aspect of these offers is that customers get the chance to win cash prizes from games such as Starburst without risking their own money.
The catch, however, is that bonus winnings can only be released once the player hits a betting target (a playthrough). Therefore, from an operator’s perspective, they’re giving away free money in order to secure new customers. This taps into the social gaming trend and is something we’ll see more of in 2025.
The Influence of Influencers
The final trend that’s set to sweep the online gambling industry in 2025 is the rise of influencers. Although the SOFTSWISS survey showed that SEO continues to offer the highest ROI for online gambling operators (29% return), influencer partnerships are seen as the top marketing opportunity for 2025.
A number of famous faces have worked with gambling companies over the years. Neymar and Roger Federer have worked with PokerStars. Carl Froch has worked with Party Poker, and stars such as Jennifer Tilly have been kicking around the industry for over a decade.
Social media influencers have been added to the mix in recent years. For example, MrBeast has turned his hand to poker, while Jake Paul has a financial interest in Betr. With more marketing teams turning to social media figures for added reach, we’re likely to see more influencers promoting gambling brands in 2025, along with the other trends we’ve identified.