The sports betting industry has been growing in recent years, with increasing legalisation in different countries, improving technology and increasing capitalisation, which is affecting the outlook for many international projects. By 2025, the estimated global valuation of this market has exceeded 108 billion USD, with a projected growth of 10% to 11% annually, according to ora-bet.net. Amidst such sweeping changes, discussions of legal reforms and forecasts are shaping the trajectory of the future.
In this article, we will analyse what the current geography of the sports betting market looks like, what reforms and changes to expect in the future, what is already changing in the law, what risks and opportunities the industry faces, and how technological and market trends are shaping the next generation of betting.
Global Sports Betting Market
The market is forecast to grow to $187bn by 2030, at an 11% CAGR. Already today, more than 70% of betting is online, especially from mobile devices. More than half of these bets are made during events thanks to live streaming on the sites and apps themselves.
The following regions are the main leaders of the industry, each characterised by its own specific features and key development vectors:
- North America remains the largest market, with a turnover of around $24.5bn in 2025;
- Europe accounts for about 48% of global volumes, with slow but steady growth;
- Asia Pacific shows rapid growth (13% CAGR), especially in India, Philippines, Japan;
- Latin America is growing at 16.7 % CAGR, largely due to regulation in Brazil;
- Africa with 14.5% CAGR and $5.6bn in 2025, known for its interest in mobile betting and popularity in countries like Nigeria;
Let’s also look at what’s changing in terms of legal regulation in different countries and the interests of localised betting site audiences.
US
Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, 38 US states legalised sports betting. By 2024, turnover exceeded $150bn, with operators generating $14.2bn in revenue and about $2.9bn in tax revenues to the treasury.
The new SAFE Bet Act legislative initiative proposes minimum federal standards that cover advertising and promotion, betting limits and the use of AI in technical processes. This demonstrates the importance of a unified approach within the country, where all states will be able to regulate betting autonomously.
Latin America and Brazil
Brazil passed Federal Law 14,790 in 2023, opening up the betting market, including online and offline, under the control of the country’s Ministry of Finance. From 2025, the first licences have been issued to 14 operators, with another 50 operating temporarily. In return, a tax on gross revenue and user retention through KYC/AML systems was introduced.
India
In India, legislation remains at the state-by-state level. Karnataka is discussing the creation of an online betting regulatory body, which could impose a complete ban on betting and gambling activities in the country.
Europe
The UK will tighten advertising, as well as introduce new restrictions and tighter betting limits. Meanwhile, EU countries are working on protection standards and GDPR compatibility. The UK context is cited as an example of a mature region with increased requirements .
Technology Developments
Artificial intelligence is already being actively used by many developers to generate odds and predictions, monitor risk and fraud, personalise content, and identify problematic user behaviour. Many studies and experiments point to the unique opportunities and benefits of applying ML models and neural networks to sports betting.
The move to a mobile-first approach is already the norm and a quality standard for major international brands. 75-80% of all bets are placed via mobile devices, and in-play bets account for up to 50% of turnover.
Also, some projects have already integrated blockchain, creating a transparent system for calculating and paying out bets.These segments are growing faster than traditional segments, especially among young people (Gen Z), adding diversity and expanding the audience.
Prospects and Barriers
By the end of the century, cybersports and virtual betting will grow 15% through 2028. This is particularly noticeable in markets not covered by traditional sports infrastructure .
The development of sports betting is also largely attributed to regulatory factors:
- Tax changes can both stimulate the market and cause an exodus of activity offshore;
- Advertising and betting restrictions require careful implementation without abuse;
- The need for unified infrastructure and authorisation (e.g. AI-driven player protection) is becoming an intra-technological standard.
What does this mean for users and the industry itself? Obviously, the protection environment will increase: habits, limits, alerts. There will be more options for development mobile app-first, in-play betting, cryptocurrency options.
The projects themselves emphasise technology (AI, blockchain, live betting), face rising costs due to licensing, advertising and the fight against tinkering, as well as market consolidation after M&A, regulatory pressure.
The future of sports betting is not only in numbers and technology, it lies in the harmonisation of interests of users, states and operators. The market could grow to $200+bn by 2030, especially through mobile and in-play offerings. Potential reforms – tax, advertising, technology – will be the main points of regulation.
For market participants, it’s important:
- Users – choose regulated and licensed sites, use limits and responsible gaming mechanisms;
- For project teams to balance innovation and regulation, and to invest in protection and M&A technologies.
- States – to implement competent regulation, to support the legal market, to allocate resources to social protection.
In this way, sports betting becomes not just a hobby, but a sustainable segment of the economy – with a responsible approach on the part of all participants. This could be the industry of the future – large-scale, technological and socially responsible.