EGBA members contribute $4.4 billion to European economies in 2024 amidst record advances in safer gambling

Members of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) paid €3.8 billion ($4.44 billion) in taxes across Europe last year while also recording notable strides in safer gambling, according to the group’s latest sustainability report released. The findings detail how EGBA operators are strengthening their role as economic contributors and social stakeholders in the EU and UK markets.

The 2025 report, which compiles data from the association’s operator members for the calendar year 2024, shows a marked rise in player protection measures. EGBA members sent 100 million safer gambling messages to customers, a 48% increase from the previous year, and nearly 27 million players, or 69% of all customers, used safety tools such as deposit limits and activity monitors. Half of these players did so on their own initiative.

Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, described the results as evidence that members are “setting industry benchmarks for safer gambling.” He pointed to the effectiveness of personalised messaging, noting that it positively influenced between 42% and 46% of customers identified as higher risk, with roughly one in five of these customers going on to activate or strengthen their responsible gambling tools.

Haijer also addressed regulatory stability to sustain these advances, warning that Europe’s regulated operators face growing challenges from offshore sites that neither protect players nor contribute tax revenue. “The regulated industry makes substantial investments, but we need a longer-term policy vision in some national markets,” he said.

Beyond player protection, the report highlights how EGBA members’ activities support European interests. The operators contributed €735 million ($859 million) to European sports through sponsorships, league fees, and streaming rights, with streaming representing 62% of that spending.

Charitable donations rose 4% to €156.8 million ($183.26 million), and contributions to research, education, and treatment services for gambling harm reached nearly €149 million ($174.14 million), bringing the five-year total to €290 million ($338.94 million).

On employment and diversity, EGBA members reported a combined workforce of over 62,600 people across online and land-based operations, with 57% male and 43% female employees. Of these employees, 89% received training in safer gambling practices last year.

Meanwhile, the companies recorded an 11% drop in total energy consumption to 190.2 GWh, with 78% of their energy now coming from renewable sources, up from 64% in 2023.

The report also documented a growing player base, with 38.6 million active customer accounts, a 19% year-on-year rise. The customer profile was 75% male and 25% female, while customer service teams handled nearly 16 million interactions, most commonly about bonuses and offers.

EGBA said the annual data reflects the shared aim among its members to pair business growth with higher social responsibility standards. As part of this effort, the group emphasised its continued backing of the World Lottery Association’s Responsible Gaming Framework, under which its members are already certified at Level 3.

While the association’s report does not undergo external auditing, EGBA stated it takes extensive steps to verify the accuracy of member submissions. The data covers the online gambling operations of its members within the EU and UK for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2024.