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Behind the Success of the Growing European Online Gambling Market
Due to all types of restrictions on social gathering and physical attendance in many brick-and-mortar businesses, the global online gaming and gambling markets have ballooned in 2020. As gambling becomes more and more of an online activity, markets such as the European Union are projected to grow at about 10% per year, and increase to nearly US$35.5 billion by 2022, up nearly 32% from its 2018 numbers. Globally, the online gambling market is projected to reach US$160 billion by 2026. The European market is seen as far more regulated than any other, with the Western side catching up to the Eastern market revenue-wise. But for a diverse group of developers and their platforms, there are companies already licensed to operate in the EU that are reaping the rewards of their market position on the continent, including Bragg Gaming Group, Glue Mobile, Activision Blizzard, Century Casino Inc., and Enthusiast Gaming.
Through its subsidiary ORYX Gaming, Bragg Gaming Group recently announced its entry into the lucrative Swiss market, after signing a content deal with leading operator mycasino.ch by Grand Casino Luzern.
It’s worth noting that as recently as 2019, online gaming was illegal in Switzerland, and all access to unlicensed sites and apps were to be blocked. But a new gambling law from July 2019 enabled land-based casinos to launch online operations.
Since then, the Swiss regulated online market quickly gained traction. The latest official figures from the country’s regulator showed that online gaming licensees generated CHF23.5M (more than US$26 million) in just the first partial year of being live.
It’s notable that ORYX/Bragg’s partner Grand Casino Luzern‘s brand mycasino.ch generated CHF8.9M (nearly US$10 million) in revenues in 2019—accounting for nearly 38% of the total Swiss online gaming market.
“We have had a strong start to our online operations and are constantly looking for fresh and exciting content to enhance the experience for our growing customer base. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with ORYX moving forward,” said Wolfgang Bliem, CEO of Grand Casino Luzern. “Our main objective is to provide our Swiss players with pure entertainment at the highest level, and we believe ORYX’s portfolio of games can help us achieve just that. We are pleased to be the first operator in the country to offer the games through ORYX and are confident that the games will be huge hits with our players.”
Through ORYX GAMING, Bragg is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), as well as the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN) and is compliant, certified, or approved in 18 other major jurisdictions.
“The Swiss online market is one that we have had an eye on since the new legislation entered into force in 2019 and we are thrilled to finally make our debut,” said Matevz Mazij, Managing Director of ORYX Gaming. “Grand Casino Luzern makes a perfect partner for us as one of the most established operators in the market with a strong online brand and we look forward to working together to build our presence in the country.”
Prior to the Swiss announcement, Bragg Gaming Group announced an exceptional revenue growth of 72% in Q3 2020. Bragg continued to focus on expanding its global footprint, onboarding 14 new customers in the quarter alone. Beyond Switzerland, they’re also in advanced discussions with new customers across multiple other licensed jurisdictions in Europe and Latin America.
Built upon its portfolio of assets that includes the ORYX Gaming subsidiary, Bragg Gaming Group is positioned as an innovative B2B online gaming facilitator, providing turnkey solutions including an omni-channel retail, online, and mobile iGaming platform to clients such as Grand Casino Luzern. Bragg’s games are played and enjoyed in countries around the world, and the company is set to sponsor this year’s prestigious World Gaming Executive Summit (WGES)—one of Europe’s most exclusive iGaming conferences.
At another virtual conference held on Dec 9, Glu Mobile (NASDAQ:GLUU) will be sending its CEO and COO to participate in one-on-one meetings and a fireside chat at the UBS Global TMT Virtual Conference.
Unlike online casino games, Glu Mobile’s primary assets are “freemium” mobile games—games that are free to download, but incentivize players to spend more money for downloadable content and upgrades. The business model has proven quite successful, as shares of Glu Mobile have risen 43.88% over the past quarter, and are up 76.88% in the last year. The company’s revenue reached a record high US$158.50 million, beating the estimate of US$136.30 million, resulting in a year-over-year growth of 48%.
Much like Glu, Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) saw its revenues grow in 2020, by an expected rate of 28%. This year’s lockdowns and increased time at home has given Activision Blizzard its biggest base of engaged players to date. The company expects that its next major Call of Duty release will only add more to the bottom line—and push sales in Q4 to $2 billion, and net bookings of $2.7 billion.
“There are few entertainment franchises that generate over $1 billion in annual net bookings,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. “And today, we operate three of them: Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush. And each has clear opportunity for sustained growth.”
The lack of physical traffic in Europe appears to be hurting groups such as Century Casino Inc. (NASDAQ:CNTY), which cited its casinos in Poland having a softer Q3 2020. While casinos in smaller cities around the country (drawing more local patrons) are doing well, their two larger casinos in the Polish capital of Warsaw are being softened because of the lack of tourists and business travelers. However, the global casino entertainment company has already begun to move on internet sports betting, such as in October partnering with Tipico for gaming in Colorado. Tipico originally started in Europe in 2004, and is the leading sports betting provider in Germany.
The popularity of online gaming and esports continues to be aided by the work of the world’s largest social network of communities for gamers and esports fans, Enthusiast Gaming (TSX:EGLX). With a reach of over 300 million gaming enthusiasts on a monthly basis, and hosts of the largest mobile gaming event in Europe, Pocket Gamer Connects, Enthusiast Gaming has seen strong growth in 2020—including 36% growth of total advertising revenue, including programmatic advertising revenue growth of 28%.
Because of the nature of their business, Enthusiast’s events have not been as harmed as the more brick-and-mortar centered groups, such as Century Casino. Its latest EGLX 2020 online gaming festival was watched by over 12 million fans, while streaming a total of 53 hours of content over four days from November 10-13.
As the European online gaming and gambling markets continue to grow, companies like Bragg Gaming Group look to be in a good position to take advantage of the gains.
SOURCE Microsmallcap.com
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Platipus Ltd., a leading developer of high-quality HTML5 slot games, has unveiled its 2026 Network Tournament Series, offering a total prize pool of €125,000. Designed to enhance player engagement and operator performance, the series will run across five thrilling stages, each with €25,000 in prizes and 150 winning positions per event.
The Network Tournament Series aims to provide players with an immersive and competitive gaming experience while delivering measurable benefits for operators. By encouraging extended play sessions, increasing retention, and boosting Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), the campaign offers a strategic promotional solution for operators seeking to maximize performance and player loyalty.
Platipus confirmed that the tournament series will feature its most popular slot titles, including Wild Spin, Wild Spin Deluxe, Wild Crowns, 7 & Hot Fruits, alongside rotating feature games tailored to each stage. Each tournament stage promises unique excitement, rewarding players for skill and participation while fostering community engagement and competitive play.
The five tournament stages are scheduled as follows:
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Stage 1 (January 29–31): Santa’s Bag
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Stage 2 (February 5–7): Pirate’s Legacy
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Stage 3 (April 30 – May 2): Catch the Leprechaun
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Stage 4 (June 4–6): Jackpot Lab
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Stage 5 (September 17–19): Pirate’s Map
All events will be powered by Platipus’s proprietary tournament tool, ensuring seamless integration for operators, real-time leaderboard functionality, and a smooth player experience across all participating games.
According to the Platipus team, the tournament series is “not just about prizes — it’s about creating excitement, community engagement, and memorable experiences.” Operators can join the campaign effortlessly, leveraging a ready-to-deploy promotional framework that drives player engagement, retention, and long-term revenue growth.
With the launch of the €125,000 Network Tournament, Platipus continues to reinforce its position as a top-tier provider of HTML5 slot content and innovative iGaming solutions, offering operators and players a dynamic, rewarding, and highly engaging gaming experience throughout 2026.
The post Platipus Launches €125,000 Network Tournament Series to Boost Player Engagement in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI in iGaming
BetConstruct AI Named Global Gaming Company of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026
BetConstruct AI has been officially recognised as Global Gaming Company of the Year at the International Gaming Awards (IGA) 2026, marking a major achievement for one of the iGaming industry’s most influential technology providers.
The prestigious award highlights more than two decades of innovation, a rapidly expanding global footprint, and a bold, transformative approach to Artificial Intelligence in gaming.
The IGA 2026 accolade underscores BetConstruct AI’s position as a truly global iGaming technology leader. The company delivers fully localised, multi-currency, and multi-lingual solutions designed to meet the specific regulatory, cultural, and operational requirements of markets across every continent. This global adaptability has become a defining strength, enabling operators to scale efficiently while maintaining compliance and player relevance.
The recognition follows a year of significant growth and strategic expansion for BetConstruct AI. The continued evolution of its AI-powered ecosystem has introduced new benchmarks for operational intelligence, automation, and player engagement, reinforcing the company’s reputation for forward-thinking innovation in a highly competitive sector.
At the heart of BetConstruct AI’s success is a strong partner-first philosophy combined with a deep commitment to in-house product development. By building the majority of its technology internally, the company ensures a robust, open ecosystem that supports seamless integrations and provides operators with full control over their platforms. This approach allows BetConstruct AI to maintain consistently high quality across its extensive product portfolio while remaining flexible to partner needs.
Winning the Global Gaming Company of the Year award reflects BetConstruct AI’s long-term vision of shaping the future of iGaming through advanced localisation and continuous technological innovation. By pairing global infrastructure with locally adapted solutions, the company enables its partners to overcome regulatory and administrative complexities, allowing them to focus on acquisition, retention, and sustainable long-term growth.
As the iGaming industry increasingly prioritises transparency, intelligence, and efficiency, BetConstruct AI continues to lead the way. By combining human expertise with AI-driven precision, the company empowers partners to build and manage their own unique “universe” within the global iGaming landscape, setting a new standard for scalable, intelligent gaming solutions.
The post BetConstruct AI Named Global Gaming Company of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
always-on betting
Highlight Games Partners with OpenBet Trading System to Expand Video Virtual Sports Offering
Highlight Games, the London-based specialist in video virtual sports and instant win games, has announced a landmark long-term partnership with OpenBet, one of the sports betting industry’s leading content, platform, and services providers.
The collaboration marks a significant step forward in expanding access to premium video virtual sports across regulated betting markets worldwide.
Under the agreement, Highlight Games’ extensive content portfolio will be fully integrated into OpenBet’s Trading System, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most powerful aggregation networks for elite trading and sports betting content. This digital integration will allow operators using OpenBet’s platform to seamlessly offer Highlight’s award-winning video virtual sports alongside live sporting events.
The partnership is designed to help operators deliver a continuous and engaging sports betting experience, even during periods when live events are unavailable. By blending virtual sports with live markets, operators can maintain player engagement, optimise betting uptime, and enhance overall product variety.
Highlight Games’ video virtual sports are powered by authentic archive footage from some of the world’s most recognisable sporting competitions. Available titles include virtual sports content featuring Serie A, LaLiga, England’s Premier League — with historic footage from iconic clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal — as well as the Turkish Süper Lig. Additional sports coverage includes ATP Tour Tennis, PDC Darts, and MotoGP, offering a broad and diverse range of betting opportunities.
Unlike traditional computer-generated virtual sports, Highlight Games’ products use real broadcast-quality footage, delivering a level of realism that closely mirrors live sport. This authenticity has become a key differentiator in the video virtuals market, appealing to bettors seeking immersive, lifelike betting experiences that reflect the pace and excitement of real-world competitions.
For OpenBet, the integration further strengthens the capabilities of its Trading System, reinforcing its position as a next-generation data and trading solution. By expanding its content ecosystem with premium video virtual sports, OpenBet continues to enhance product quality, improve content diversity, and support operator competitiveness across global markets.
Steven Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Highlight Games, described the partnership as a major milestone for the company. He noted that Highlight’s video virtual sports are specifically designed to replicate the excitement and unpredictability of live sports betting. By integrating with OpenBet’s industry-leading Trading System, Highlight Games is enabling operators to deliver always-on sports entertainment that keeps customers engaged beyond traditional live event schedules.
Jason Ayton, Chief Business Development Officer at OpenBet, also welcomed the partnership, highlighting its strategic importance. He emphasised that adding Highlight Games’ premium video virtual sports further enhances OpenBet’s sophisticated content aggregation network. According to Ayton, the collaboration empowers operators to better bridge the gap between live events by offering high-quality, engaging betting content at all times, reinforcing Trading System’s status as a premier platform for world-class sports betting entertainment.
The post Highlight Games Partners with OpenBet Trading System to Expand Video Virtual Sports Offering appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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