EGBA Members Increase Revenue: Over 43 Million Active Customers

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) looks back on a successful year in 2025. Its members, including industry giants like Bet365, Entain, and Flutter, increased their collective Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) to 18 billion Euros. This represents a significant growth of 34 percent compared to the previous year, accounting for 48 percent of the total GGR for online casino games in Europe. Over 43.8 million active customer accounts testify to the widespread adoption of online gambling across the continent.

These figures highlight the continued dominance of the online sector, which continues to evolve despite new regulations and challenges. The industry proves resilient and adaptable, even as the focus on player protection and sustainability remains central.

Numbers and facts

The EGBA, which it says represents about 30 percent of European online GGR, provided detailed insights in its 2026 annual report. Active customer accounts increased by 13 percent to 43.8 million in 2025. This marks a 47 percent increase since 2021, when active accounts stood at 29.8 million. A total of 275.3 billion Euros in stakes were placed in 2025, up 28 percent year-on-year. Customer winnings also increased by 27 percent to 257.3 billion Euros.

The distribution of GGR across game categories shows a clear trend: casino games accounted for 48 percent of GGR, closely followed by sports betting with 46 percent. Poker was at 3 percent, with other categories like bingo, virtual betting, esports, and event betting also at 3 percent. Particularly noteworthy is the growth in sports betting, whose GGR rose by 49 percent to 8.2 billion Euros, while casino games saw a 23 percent increase to 8.6 billion Euros.

A notable trend is the decrease in the Return to Player (RTP) rate. This fell to 93.4 percent in 2025, down from 93.7 percent the previous year. This led to a slight increase in operators' operating margin from 6.3 percent to 6.6 percent. Many industry representatives, however, view this tactic, often used to offset rising costs from higher taxes and stake limits, critically. They fear a lower long-term customer value.

Background

In 2025, the EGBA also intensified its sustainability efforts. In collaboration with the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA), a “Responsible Influencer Marketing Pledge” was launched in October 2025. This pledge aims to promote stricter age verification, transparent labeling of paid partnerships, and restrictions on content appealing to minors. The focus on player protection therefore remains.

The fifth annual “European Safer Gambling Week” in November 2025 reached 221 partners across 24 countries, an increase of 14 percent. For the first time, safer gambling messages were also displayed during live televised football matches in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, and Italy. The EGBA also launched a dedicated resource website, safergambling.eu, offering country-specific helpline details and self-exclusion tools.

“The continuous increase in active customer accounts and gross gaming revenue shows that online gambling in Europe continues to boom, but also the responsibility of providers is growing. We see how the industry tries to adapt to new regulations while strengthening player protection.” - Maarten Haijer, Secretary-General of the EGBA

The number of online licenses held by EGBA members increased to 401 across 22 jurisdictions. This represents a 25 percent growth compared to 2024. This underscores geographical expansion and adaptation to various regulatory systems in Europe.

Why it matters for German players

For players in Germany, these developments have particular relevance. The German State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) has reorganized and strictly regulated the German market. The Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) now issues licenses for online casinos and online sports betting. Players should exclusively use offers on the GGL whitelist to ensure they are playing in a legal and controlled environment.

German players are directly affected by the implications of the GlüStV 2021. This includes a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 Euros, controlled via the central monitoring system LUGAS, and a stake limit of 1 Euro per spin on online slots. These measures are intended to protect players but can affect the player experience and lead to players migrating to foreign, often dubious, providers that do not guarantee payouts and usually offer ineffective player protection. It is crucial for players to use legal offers to avoid falling into the trap of unlicensed providers that cannot guarantee payouts and often lack effective player protection.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For online casinos holding a GGL license, European trends present both opportunities and challenges. While the overall market grows, they must adhere to specific German regulations. The mentioned strategy of lowering RTP, used in Europe to increase operating margins, is only partially applicable in Germany due to strict fair play requirements and technical demands. The GGL places great importance on transparency and protecting players from excessive losses or addiction.

Furthermore, GGL-licensed casinos must deal with the LUGAS system, which not only monitors deposit limits but also integrates a cross-operator self-exclusion system (OASIS). This entails a high administrative effort but also creates a high degree of security and trust for players. The successes of EGBA members show that the online market as a whole is prospering. For German licensed providers, this means they can participate in the growth despite stricter requirements if they manage to balance attractiveness and compliance. The emphasis on player protection measures, as pursued by EGBA with the “Responsible Influencer Marketing Pledge” and “Safer Gambling Week,” aligns well with the goals of German regulation.