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€3.8 Billion Tax Contribution from EGBA Members to European Economy Revealed in 2024 Report
Members of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) contributed €3.8 billion in taxes to the European economy in 2024 and achieved record progress in safer gambling and social responsibility, according to the association’s fifth annual sustainability report published today. The report reveals that EGBA members sent 100 million safety messages to their European customers in 2024 – a 48% year-on-year increase – and 69% of their customers, or 26.7 million of them, use safety tools, with half doing so voluntarily.
The Sustainability Report 2025 outlines the collective efforts of EGBA members to contribute positively to European society through safer gambling, social investment, and responsible business practices. It presents data on customer demographics, use of safety tools, investments in sports and society, employment and diversity, and environmental performance. The report covers the online operations of EGBA members in the EU and UK and tracks their year-on-year progress.
“This year’s report shows our members are not only positive contributors to Europe’s economy but also setting industry benchmarks for safer gambling,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA. “We’re especially encouraged by the success of personalised safety messages, which our report shows to be positively impacting between 42% to 46% of customers showing high-risk behaviours. That’s genuinely meaningful progress that builds trust and helps raise standards across the wider industry.”
“Our members are showing that leadership in our industry is about more than commercial success – it’s about protecting players, supporting communities, and investing in Europe’s future,” Haijer added. “But sustaining these achievements requires stable and supportive regulatory frameworks and stronger enforcement against black market operators based outside Europe, who threaten the safety of European citizens and contribute nothing to our societies. The regulated industry makes substantial investments, but we need a longer-term policy vision in some national markets.”
EGBA and its members are committed to fostering a strong culture of social responsibility while evolving to meet rising societal expectations. Through their shared commitment to sustainability, our members continue to demonstrate that safer gambling and business success go hand in hand.
Key sustainability highlights from EGBA members (2024)
Social Contributions
- €3.8 billion contributed in taxes to European economies, including corporate and gaming taxes, providing funding for public services and community initiatives.
- €735 million invested in European sports through sponsorships, fees, and streaming rights payments – with streaming rights accounting for the largest share (62%).
- €156.8 million donated to charities and community initiatives across Europe, representing a 4% yearly increase.
Promotion of Safer Gambling
- A record 100 million messages were sent to customers to promote safer gambling, a 48% year-on-year increase. 28% of these messages were personalised, based on a customer’s individual playing behaviour, and were primarily delivered to customers via pop-ups (67%) and email (25%).
- Personalised messages had positive impacts on 42-46% of customers with high-risk behaviours, with customers either improving their play or maintaining stable patterns following targeted messages. 21% of these customers also activated or strengthened safety tools following personalised messages.
- 89% of all employees received safer gambling training – accounting for over 55,000 employees across online and land-based operations (up from 80% in 2023).
- €148.9 million contributed to research, education, and treatment (RET) services to support gambling harm prevention in Europe, making it €290 million in RET contributions in the past 5 years.
Safer Gambling Tools
- 69% of all customers used safety tools – representing a record 26.7 million players (a 28% yearly increase). Half of these, 13.2 million customers, used tools voluntarily.
- Deposit limits remained the most popular tool, used by 65% of customers who use tools voluntarily.
Customers
- 38.6 million customer accounts, representing a 19% year-on-year increase.
- 75% of customers were male (up from 72% in 2023), while 25% of customers were female (down from 28%).
- 15.9 million customer service interactions, a 10% yearly increase, with the most popular topic being offers/bonuses (18%).
Employment and Diversity
- 62,698 total employees across both land-based and online operations, with 57% male and 43% female employees.
Energy and Environment
- Total energy consumption decreased by 11% to 190.2 gigawatt hours (GWh), covering both land-based and online operations. 78% of energy use was sourced from renewables, an increase from 64% in 2023.
- Greenhouse gas emissions were 1.15 million tonnes CO2e, with value chain emissions (Scope 3) accounting for 95% of the total.
Source: EGBA
The post €3.8 Billion Tax Contribution from EGBA Members to European Economy Revealed in 2024 Report appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.
The Full Story
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.
The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.
Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.
Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.
The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.
The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.
Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:
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Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
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Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
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Player’s Pick Award.
Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:
“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”
The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.
The Full Story
Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.
The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”
The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:
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Plinko
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Mines
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Tower
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Limbo
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Crash
Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.
Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.
Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:
“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”
Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.
The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.
The Full Story
Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.
Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.
The Commercial Deal
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SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
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The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.
A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.
Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:
“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”
Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:
“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”
The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year:
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9th Jan: Wolverhampton
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6th Feb: Newcastle
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20th Feb: Southwell
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20th March: Wolverhampton
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27th March: Newcastle
The post Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
