2025 has already had a high level of sports betting thanks to large sporting events like the Super Bowl and Premier League. Changes in law and regulation as well as advances in technology helped to grow the industry even more. These factors haven’t just helped the industry to grow but have also changed the way many users interact with betting sites and platforms. That being said this shift into a new world is only just the beginning and many experts believe that 2025 is going to be a very exciting year for the industry. With 2025 well underway let’s take a look at what’s in store for the global sports betting market for the rest of the year.
Current market overview
At the end of 2024 the global sports betting industry was worth 243.7 billion U.S. This shows an incredible increase from the previous years. The sports betting industry is made up of different types which include traditional sportsbooks, online betting, in-play betting and fantasy sports. Online betting in particular has seen a huge amount of growth ever since it was legalized in the US. As each state regulates online betting the industry continues to grow. Many experts believe that online gambling and in particular mobile betting has helped the industry to grow even more thanks to the convenience of the experience. Users can place bets anytime, anywhere.
Factors driving growth
Several factors are working together to drive the growth of the global sports betting market. These factors are also expected to continue to contribute to the growth of the industry through 2025. Some of the major factors include:
Legalization and regulatory changes: This is one of the biggest contributing factors to the growing market. Gambling laws and regulations around the world are relaxing with some regions legalizing sports betting. One of the major regions and biggest impact is the US. Back in 2018, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This allowed individual states to regulate sports betting. It didn’t take long for states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Other states then saw the benefits of legalizing sports betting. This includes the taxable revenue and followed suit. In 2025 many experts believe that the success of legalizing sports betting in the US will encourage other regions too with Brazil only just legalizing it.
Technological advancements: This is another factor that’s playing an important role in the growth of the sports betting industry. Recent innovations like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and blockchain have already completely changed the way that users interact with the betting industry. It’s also helping to improve user experience which is helping to ensure bettors are enjoying themselves and coming back again. For example, AI is being used to analyze vast amounts of data and help to provide more accurate odds. The best betting sites in the world will also provide this data to allow bettors to make more informed betting decisions. Whereas blockchain is helping to make a bettor’s experience more fair, transparent and secure. Then there’s augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) which are helping to make betting experiences more immersive and realistic. This technology in particular is helping to attract a whole new and younger audience to the betting world.
Esports and virtual sports: Esports has added a whole new type of sports to the betting experience. And again is helping to attract a new audience of gamers to the industry. Which in turn is helping to grow the industry even further. The esports market is projected to reach USD 5.18 billion by 2029. Competitive gaming (esports) has become immensely popular in recent years with events like the League of Legends World Championship bringing in thousands of spectators and millions in revenue. The rise in esports has led to platforms now offering betting markets for more popular events. This has helped the industry to expand even further.
Changing consumer behaviour: Society is changing. Modern bettors are younger, more tech-savvy and are more likely to place bets on a wider range of sports and events. Millennials and Generation Z are becoming the target audience for betting companies. Many companies are adapting to the younger generations and are offering mobile-friendly websites and apps that provide a more convenient and smooth experience. They are also providing features like social betting which allows them to interact with friends and other bettors. This combines betting with more of a social media experience which is of course very popular among Genz and millennials.
Market challenges
2025 has the potential to see an incredible amount of growth. There are several factors contributing to the growth of the industry. However, it’s important to also consider some of the challenges the industry might see. Regulatory uncertainty will always remain to be a significant hurdle. There are regions where governments are still trying to navigate the complex world of legislation while others still strongly consider sports betting to be illegal. This is of course a huge barrier for operators reaching out to customers in these regions. Many operators are working hard to find alternative ways to reach these customers.
Problem gambling is another challenge. Especially as it can be one of the main factors as to why sports betting is illegal in some areas. However many operators are working hard to promote responsible gaming measures as well as providing tools for their customers to help prevent it.
Global growth patterns
Different regions can have a different impact on the sports betting market. With some areas growing faster than others. While the market is expected to grow, some areas will have more of an impact than others.
- North America: This region plays a huge part in the growing market. Especially as both the U.S and Canada have legalized sports betting (2018 and 2021) recently. Both countries also have a strong sports culture with many fans eager to place wagers in 2025.
- Latin America: This is another area where the market is expected to grow in 2025. Countries like Brazil and Argentina seeing a rise in sports betting. Not only will the large population of these countries have an impact. Many experts believe the legalization will have a knock-on effect on other countries in Latin America.
- Europe: This is one of the largest betting markets in the world. Sports betting is legal and has a high level of regulation across many countries. The UK is one of the largest contributors to the European market followed by Germany, France and Spain. The European market is expected to grow in the coming years with new markets being introduced to countries like the Netherlands and Sweden.
- Asia-Pacific: Sports betting is a fast-growing market in Asia-Pacific. Countries like Australia and New Zealand already have a strong sports culture as well as being popular for sports betting. While Asia has a strong sporting culture with some exciting events and leagues; there are many countries like China and in Asia where sports betting is illegal or highly regulated like in South Korea. However, there are a few countries like India where there’s talk of online sports betting legalization. This would have a huge impact on the industry especially as India has such a huge sports culture as well as a very large population.
All in all the global market is expected to see continued growth through the rest of 2025. The industry is constantly attracting new bettors thanks to changes in legislation and the rise in technology. While there are challenges in play, many operators are working hard to overcome them. All signs point to an exciting and transformative year ahead for the industry.