The gambling industry has been around for centuries, and its evolution in that time has been dramatic. Casinos eventually turned into online casinos, but even the land-based versions are still incredibly innovative and intriguing. The industry is not just about betting now – it’s about hospitality, technology, and entertainment.

It would be unwise to suggest that we’re now at the peak of the gambling industry, and that the gaming experience won’t continue to get better for customers. Several factors, both positive and negative, could impact the industry in the future – and while nobody knows what’s in store, we can at least speculate.

In this guide, we will outline the potential future of gambling games. You will learn what the current state of the industry is, along with which kinds of technology could change what we see in years to come. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Is the Gambling Industry Growing?

The gambling industry continues to grow significantly, and its current value – according to Statista– is $263 billion (USD). The website also mentions that more than 5,600 casinos exist across the world.

While the land-based casino sector is well-established, the online space is also continuing to grow. This has been helped by several factors, such as increasing internet penetration and evolving regulations in different markets.

According to Mordor Intelligence, we can expect the online gambling industry to be worth $103.74 billion by 2028. As of 2023, it was estimated that the online gambling sector was worth $60.63 billion.

The above statistics represent an anticipated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.34%. North America is currently the fastest-growing market, aided in no doubt by evolving regulations across the US – largely due to the 2018 repeal of PASPA – and changes to Canadian betting legislation in 2021.

Several events could impact the gambling industry’s growth over the next five years. In sports betting, for example, the 2026 World Cup is being held in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Considering that North America and Latin America are both hot markets for betting industry evolution, this event could be significantly beneficial.

What Is the Future of Casinos?

Casinos will be important in both a land-based and online sense. It’s easy to think that the mobile and desktop betting sector will eat these up, but that would also be ignoring the several advantages of these.

One common argument when talking about the potential downfall of land-based casinos relates to the multiple closures that we’ve seen to physical sports betting outlets in recent years. But it’s important to note that both are very different.

Land-based casinos are much more of a social event than going to the local bookmaker – people go there for entertainment like live shows as well, while they also drink and eat in these establishments. In Vegas, for example, part of the thrill associated with visiting is doing both of those and staying at the fancy venues.

Casinos will likely continue to evolve in their forms of entertainment. For example, we might see different games become available – and it’s also possible that we continue seeing new and innovative slots come about.

It’s probable that online and land-based casinos will exist together, rather than one replacing the other.

What Nationality Gambles the Most?

According toInsider Monkey, the US is the country that gambles the most out of everyone on the planet. Overall gross gambling win across all of its states is around $119 billion.

This is no doubt helped by the fact that many people visit Las Vegas each year for the sole purpose of gambling, and the same goes for Atlantic City in New Jersey.

The US has seen significant growth in its sports betting market especially. As of December 2023, over half of its 50 states have legalized sports wagering in some way, shape, or form. In contrast, not as many have regulated online casino gaming – but the likes of New Jersey and Pennsylvania are strong markets for revenue and growth.

Second on the list is perhaps surprising, because people don’t normally look at China as a gambling market. However, its gross gambling win is $70 billion. Despite this, gambling is not allowed in the country – with the exception of Macau and (in some cases) Hong Kong, both of which are sovereign territories.

Japan is the third most popular country in the world for gambling, with $50 billion in gross gambling winnings. Meanwhile, Italy ($20 billion) is fourth and the UK ($19 billion) is fifth.

Developments

Technological advances and general changes in society have impacted the gambling industry – some alterations have been positive, whereas others have had the opposite effect.

One of the biggest adjustments that has impacted the gambling industry was COVID-19, which forced the shutdown of land-based casinos in many countries across the world. During that time, sporting events were also halted for months – meaning that the gambling sector lost a significant chunk of revenue.

On the flip side, the pandemic did mean that more people wagered online instead of doing so in person. Many verticals, such as bingo and poker, enjoyed an uptake in activity compared to before. Since then, the industry has bounced back – and both land-based and online casinos continue to thrive.

Another change that has happened in the gambling sector recently is the change in regulation – both for good and bad. While many countries and territories have allowed players to gamble compared to before, some have also become stricter on some aspects.

For example, credit card gambling is no longer allowed in the UK. On top of that, many have suggested changes to gambling advertising – such as no longer allowing sponsorships on football jerseys.

Elsewhere, we have also seen restrictions to advertising that’s related to gambling. We’ll have to see whether that continues in the future, but it is something that could continue impacting the industry.

Future Prognosis: What Could Impact Gambling Games in the Future?

The gambling sector will likely have multiple influences that change its trajectory, and it’s a good idea to look at each of these. To help you figure out the type of direction you should consider moving in, we’ve outlined some of the most important points to consider below.

Regulation

The biggest factor that will change the gambling industry in many countries is undoubtedly regulation. In the US, for example, it’s likely that more states will regulate forms of online gambling in the future – and it’s also possible that those that allow offline gambling will permit the internet-based versions as well.

We can also look to regions with huge potential, such as countries in Africa – where many people already wager a lot of money on sports. Despite this, many nations still don’t allow gambling – so we may see this change in the future.

Latin America is also a region that could see significant growth, and Canada also has big potential.

As we mentioned earlier, some countries have grown stricter to certain aspects within the gambling industry and payment methods. We might see these continue in the future, and there will also probably be a greater emphasis on operators having all the right licenses before they can continue operating.

Consumer Preferences

Industries typically need to meet customer preferences, and what players prefer will have a big say on what new innovations we see over the coming years. It’s likely that players will continue wanting more of an interactive experience that resembles real-life casinos to some degree. For this reason, we may see augmented reality become more popular.

Another possible change that we could see in the industry is that more traditional card games become popular in their casino form. Many casinos still haven’t found a way to offer these services, but that could well change as we see more of an attempt to do that.

Future Technologies

We’ve already touched upon augmented reality, and we could see that impact both online and offline games. For example, we might see table games in casinos still have a real dealer – but other aspects added into the mix through the usage of AR.

Artificial intelligence could also have a huge impact on the gambling industry. We might see it improve game offerings, but it’ll also likely help with tasks that currently take a long time. For example, AI can potentially help with app and website development in the future.

In addition to augmented reality, we might see virtual reality impact how players wager. While VR glasses are still quite expensive, it’s possible that we might see people enter alternative universes to play their favorite games in the future.

Conclusion: Gambling Has an Interesting Future

The future of the gambling industry is exciting and uncertain in equal measure. We will undoubtedly see new technology change the way that we interact with others, and it’s also highly likely that consumer preferences will continue shifting toward more engaging in-person and virtual experiences. It’ll be up to operators to meet those requirements.

Other factors, such as changing regulations, will also alter how the gambling industry evolves in the future. On top of that, innovations from other sectors will likely seep into the gaming sector in some way, shape, or form.

FAQ

What is the future of casinos?

The future of casinos will be shaped by evolving regulations and consumer preferences, particularly in regions like the US, Africa, Latin America, and Canada. Additionally, technological advancements like augmented reality and artificial intelligence are expected to play significant roles. Overall, the future of casinos will likely involve a blend of regulatory changes, technological innovations, and a focus on meeting consumer demands for immersive and interactive gaming experiences.

Is the gambling industry growing?

The gambling industry is growing rapidly, with a current value of $263 billion (USD) and over 5,600 casinos worldwide. The online gambling sector is also expanding, driven by increased internet access and changing regulations. North America is the fastest-growing market, thanks to regulatory changes and major events like the 2026 World Cup in North America is expected to further boost this growth.

What nationality gambles the most?

The US leads the world in gambling, with a gross gambling win of around $119 billion, driven by hotspots like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. China follows with $70 billion, mainly from Macau and Hong Kong, despite gambling being largely illegal in the country. Japan is third with $50 billion, Italy is fourth with $20 billion, and the UK is fifth with $19 billion.