Month: March 2025

Portugal Hits Record Online Gambling Revenue in Q4 2024, Led by Sports Betting Surge

Portugal’s online gambling market achieved record-breaking revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024, totaling €322.9 million. This represents a significant 42% increase compared to Q4 of the previous year and exceeds the previous quarterly high set in Q3 by over 21%.

Sports betting experienced a particularly remarkable quarter, with revenue jumping 90% year-on-year to reach €138.3 million, significantly surpassing the previous quarter. Although total bets placed were stable at approximately €533.7 million, football remained the top choice, capturing 75% of wagers.

Online casino also performed strongly, bringing in a record €184.6 million, a 19.5% year-on-year increase. Player spending on casino games reached €5.15 billion, mostly driven by slot games, which accounted for over 80% of total wagers.

Player engagement continues to grow, with total active online players in Portugal reaching 4.7 million, marking a 15% increase. New registrations also rose by 15%, predominantly among younger demographics, particularly those aged 18-24 and 25-34.

In terms of responsible gaming, the number of self-excluded players reached 292,400, with 16,200 new exclusions during Q4. The regulator also intensified enforcement actions, issuing 41 notices to shut down illegal gambling sites.

Meanwhile, Portugal’s land-based gambling sector showed mixed results, growing 12.5% year-on-year but slightly declining compared to Q3. Slot machines generated most of this revenue, supported by solid performances from other casino games, particularly American roulette.

Europe’s Gambling Revenue Hits €123.4 Billion in 2024, Driven by Online Growth

European gambling revenue reached €123.4 billion in 2024, marking a 5% year-on-year growth, with online channels driving most of this expansion. Online gambling grew significantly, rising 11.7% to €47.9 billion and representing nearly 39% of total gambling revenue across Europe.

Casino games were the dominant online gambling activity, bringing in €23.2 billion—nearly half of the online market. Sports betting followed closely, generating €13.7 billion in revenue.

Despite strong online growth, land-based gambling remains the largest source of revenue, accounting for 61% of Europe’s total at €75.5 billion. Within land-based gambling, lottery products led with €30.9 billion, followed by gaming machines and casinos.

Geographically, the UK was Europe’s largest gambling market, particularly online, generating substantial revenues compared to Italy, France, and Germany. Meanwhile, Italy led slightly over the UK in land-based gambling revenue.

Looking forward, Europe’s gambling market is projected to continue steady growth, reaching €127.7 billion in 2025, with online gambling expected to represent 40% of total revenues for the first time. By 2029, the market could grow further to €149.2 billion, with online revenue nearing parity with land-based gambling.

March Madness 2025: Betting Handle Set for Slight Decline, Despite Improved Hold Margins

This year’s March Madness, one of the most anticipated betting events in the US sports calendar, is expected to see a slight drop in total betting handle. Industry analysts at H2 Gambling Capital project that roughly 169 million bets will be placed during the tournament, totaling around $2.9 billion. This represents a 1.5% decrease compared to the previous year, breaking several consecutive years of growth.

Several factors are contributing to this decline. Primarily, there have been no new states launching online sports betting since last year’s boost from North Carolina’s entry into the market. Additionally, unique factors such as the “Caitlin Clark effect” had previously boosted handle in 2024.

Despite a modest reduction in total wagers, operators might still see higher gross gambling revenue (GGR), thanks to an anticipated improvement in hold margins—from 7.5% last year to around 7.8% this year. Unlike professional sports events, March Madness typically generates fewer high-margin bets like same-game parlays due to lower player familiarity, which impacts the overall hold rate.

In terms of favorites, Duke Blue Devils are leading the men’s bracket, boosted by star recruit Cooper Flagg. On the women’s side, reigning champions South Carolina Gamecocks edge out the UConn Huskies as slight favorites.

Basketball remains crucial to the US betting landscape, accounting for around a third of total wagering activity. College basketball alone constitutes approximately 16% of basketball-related bets nationwide.

While overall betting handle growth in the US has slowed recently, future state launches such as Nebraska and Missouri later in the year could stimulate market expansion once again.