EGBA Members Hit €18B GGR in 2025 as Sports Betting Surges 49% and RTP Falls

Members of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) generated a combined online gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €18 billion ($20.6 billion) in 2025, a 34% increase compared with 2024, according to the EGBA 2026 Annual Activity Report published in July 2026. The report, which covers operators representing approximately 30% of Europe's regulated online gambling market, also highlights a continuing decline in the average return-to-player (RTP) rate as operators use lower payouts to offset mounting costs from gambling tax increases and tighter regulation.

Revenue Breakdown: Sports Betting Fastest, Casino Largest

Sports betting delivered the fastest GGR growth among EGBA members in 2025, rising 49% year-on-year to €8.2 billion. Online casino remained the largest single revenue segment, growing 23% to €8.6 billion and accounting for 48% of total GGR. Sports betting contributed 46%, while poker and other categories including bingo, esports and event betting each contributed 3%.

Within sports betting, pre-match wagering generated 63% of sports GGR while in-play (live) betting accounted for the remaining 37%. Total stakes placed by EGBA members reached €275.3 billion in 2025, up 28% year-on-year, while total customer winnings rose 27% to €257.3 billion in absolute terms. Active customer accounts grew 13% to 43.8 million, a 47% increase from the 29.8 million recorded in 2021.

Metric	2025	2024	Change
Combined online GGR	€18 billion	€13.5 billion	+34%
Sports betting GGR	€8.2 billion	~€5.5 billion	+49%
Casino GGR	€8.6 billion	€7.0 billion	+23%
Total stakes	€275.3 billion	€215.6 billion	+28%
Active customer accounts	43.8 million	38.8 million	+13%
Average RTP	93.4%	93.7%	-0.3pp
Operator operating margin	6.6%	6.3%	+0.3pp
Online licences held	401	321	+25%

The RTP Decline and What It Means

The average RTP rate across EGBA members fell to 93.4% in 2025, continuing a consecutive downward trend that began in 2021, when the rate was higher. The drop from 93.7% in 2024 to 93.4% in 2025 correlates directly with a rise in the operator operating margin from 6.3% to 6.6%. Lower RTP means players receive a smaller share of their total stakes back as winnings on average, generating a higher margin for operators.

The EGBA report identifies the primary driver as operators adjusting RTP settings to mitigate higher gambling taxes and regulatory measures such as deposit and stake limits. The strategy is contentious within the industry. Many operators and analysts argue that lower RTP reduces player lifetime value by decreasing the entertainment value of games, potentially discouraging long-term active play despite improving short-term margin. Customer winnings still increased in absolute terms to €257.3 billion, driven by the overall growth in betting activity rather than any improvement in payout rates.

EGBA Members: Who Is in the Group?

Current EGBA full members include Bet365, Entain, Betsson Group, Evoke, FDJ United, Flutter Entertainment, LeoVegas, Super Technologies and Tipico, which joined as a new member in 2025. Associate members include Yaspa, which also joined during the year. Together, the group held 401 online licences across 22 European jurisdictions as of the end of 2025, up from 321 licences across 21 jurisdictions in 2024. The EGBA's secretary general, Maarten Haijer, described 2025 as a "landmark year" for the association.

The group collectively contributed approximately $4.3 billion to the broader European economy, per figures cited by the EGBA's 2026 report.

Responsible Gambling Initiatives

The EGBA launched a Responsible Influencer Marketing Pledge in October 2025 in partnership with the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA). The pledge requires stricter age-gating, transparent paid partnership disclosures and limits on content likely to appeal to minors, backed by independent monitoring and content takedown mechanisms. The fifth annual European Safer Gambling Week, held November 17 to 23, 2025, attracted 221 partners across 24 countries, a 14% increase from the 195 partners in 2024. For the first time, safer gambling messages were displayed during live televised football matches in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece and Italy. The EGBA also launched the safergambling.eu website offering country-specific helpline details and self-exclusion tools across Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was EGBA members' total GGR in 2025?

EGBA members generated combined online GGR of €18 billion ($20.6 billion) in 2025, a 34% increase from €13.5 billion in 2024.

Why is the RTP rate falling among European iGaming operators?

Operators have been lowering RTP settings to offset increased costs from gambling tax hikes and regulatory measures such as deposit and stake limits. The average RTP fell from 93.7% in 2024 to 93.4% in 2025, a trend that has continued since 2021.

Which vertical grew fastest among EGBA members in 2025?

Sports betting was the fastest-growing vertical, with GGR rising 49% year-on-year to €8.2 billion. Online casino remained the largest segment at €8.6 billion, growing 23%.

How many active customers do EGBA members have?

EGBA member operators had 43.8 million active customer accounts in 2025, a 13% increase from 2024 and a 47% rise from the 29.8 million recorded in 2021.