Mobile gambling has become the defining force in Europe’s online gaming landscape. The latest SiGMA Central Europe Market Report shows that mobile casino is expected to grow faster than any other online gambling product over the next 12 months.

This shift is about more than convenience. It reflects changes in how players interact with gambling, how long they stay active, and how quickly they move between products.

For policymakers and operators, this trend brings new challenges. As mobile gambling becomes more dominant, traditional safety tools may need to adapt to evolving player behaviors.

The Data: Mobile Casino Takes the Lead

The SiGMA Central Europe Market Report (Oct 2025) highlights a noticeable shift in product growth expectations for the year ahead. Surveyed industry experts ranked product growth potential for the next 12 months, and the results indicate a strong focus on mobile-first formats.

Here are the key findings from the product-trend data:

• Mobile casino ranks first – Mobile casino now leads all categories for projected growth, surpassing mobile betting, live betting, and live casino.
• Mobile betting remains strong – Mobile sports betting is a close second for expected revenue growth.
• Gamification in the top 3 – This product shows one of the fastest increases, driven by its continued expansion into both online casinos and sportsbooks.
• Live casino and live betting – These mainstream products continue to show good growth potential.
• AI-enhanced gambling is steadily growing – The product’s growth reflects interest in personalized game paths and recommendations.
• Crypto gambling – Expected growth continues to fluctuate depending on wider cryptocurrency market behavior, but it is becoming more mainstream.
• Sweepstakes show sharp decline – After reaching high ranks last quarter, potential sweepstakes growth saw the biggest decrease.
• Virtual gambling has low growth potential – Gambling via Metaverse and Vision Pro applications remains in a small growth territory despite an uptick this quarter.
• Bingo and fish games rank last – These formats perform well in certain international markets, but the Central Europe region does not anticipate much expansion.

The data indicates that players are shifting toward mobile formats and more interactive systems. It also shows the industry is adopting technologies that deliver a more personalized experience. These factors can strengthen engagement, but they may also increase the intensity and frequency of gambling sessions.

Why Mobile Gambling Is Leading the Market

Across Central Europe, mobile has become the dominant mode of online entertainment. The report’s findings align with broader digital usage patterns: smartphones are the primary device for browsing, shopping, streaming, and gaming. Gambling now follows the same trajectory.

Three underlying factors explain why mobile casino and mobile betting have surpassed desktop growth:

• High smartphone penetration and reliable connectivity: Consumers across Central Europe have near-universal mobile access. Rapid payment processing and secure login methods allow players to open an app and start playing within seconds.
• Operators shifting investment into mobile UX: Casino and sportsbook interfaces are increasingly optimized for vertical screens. Faster loading times, touch-friendly game layouts, and simplified navigation encourage longer and more frequent engagement.
• Integration of multiple gambling products: A player can switch from live roulette to a football bet slip or a crash game in a few taps. This convergence keeps sessions active and reduces natural pauses that might otherwise encourage breaks in gameplay.

Together, these elements create streamlined, continuous gaming that supports revenue growth. However, it potentially weakens the natural friction provided by desktop platforms.

The Accessibility Challenge: A Player-Protection Blind Spot

The growing trend of mobile gambling presents potential challenges to player protection. Mobile access allows gambling during brief downtime moments, such as commuting, waiting in lines, or unwinding before bed. Instead of continuous long sessions, mobile play often appears in frequent, shorter bursts.

These micro-sessions can add up over the course of a day, often without players noticing how much time they have spent. Some markers of harm are also harder to detect through traditional risk-monitoring systems that focus on extended gaming sessions.

The demographics most inclined toward smartphone use also include individuals with higher vulnerability to impulsive behavior. Younger adults are particularly active on mobile devices. Increased mobile accessibility is a contributing factor to the rise in teenage gambling in Italy and Greece.

These factors emphasize why mobile play requires close attention from operators and regulators. Even when overall usage appears typical, some risky behaviors may go undetected.

Emerging Technologies: AI and Gamification Raise Questions

The SiGMA data reveals two rapidly emerging innovative product categories: gamification and AI-enhanced gambling. Both bring clear benefits but also new risks.

• Gamification – This includes challenges, progression systems, loyalty tiers, daily missions, and reward loops. While these features improve engagement, they often mirror free-to-play games. As a result, they can extend playtime and encourage players to return more often.
• AI-enhanced gambling – AI may influence game suggestions, personalized bonuses, risk-adjusted bet sizes, and real-time game selection. Although AI can support harm detection, it can also intensify play if not used responsibly.

How Regulators and Operators Can Respond

The growth of mobile casino offers little indication of slowing down. As such, effective safeguards must match the design and speed of mobile gambling tools. Key considerations include:

• Real-time behavioral monitoring suited to short, frequent sessions
• In-app prompts to take breaks from gambling or review spending
• Stronger friction when deposits escalate rapidly
• Clear presentation of session time and spending summaries
• Transparent explanations of gamification features
• Ethical use of AI that avoids intensifying play

Responsible gaming is a key priority in the regulated gambling industry. EGBA’s recently approved standardized markers of harm will empower operators to advance their player protection measures. These must be implemented effectively across all platforms, with a particularly nuanced approach to mobile-specific risk factors.

Still, differences across European regulatory frameworks affect how behavioral data is interpreted and safety measures are implemented. This makes a unified safer gambling framework difficult to establish across the continent.

Final Thoughts

Mobile casino is now the fastest-growing product category in Central Europe. The shift toward mobile gambling is reshaping player behavior across the region. The SiGMA report shows a market moving toward faster access, personalized experiences, and increasingly interactive product design.

Yet rapid growth without well-designed guardrails can create conditions that lead to harm. As accessibility increases and engagement mechanics evolve, regulators and operators must work together. A joint approach will be necessary for mobile gaming to remain safe, transparent, and accountable.