What Countries Have the Most Interest in Gaming?

While many industries have struggled over the years, the online casino and igaming industry is one that seems to make steady progress. This is down to many different factors which include technology advancements, greater accessibility, changing of laws and generally more world wide acceptance. However, have you ever wondered what countries have the most interest in gaming and gambling?

A Recent Gambling Survey

A recent study conducted by Casino Deps revealed which countries have the most interest in gambling and the results are possibly not what you would expect. Now, before we get into the data, we must make it clear that the research was conducted by taking into account how many gambling related searches were made per 100,000 people in each country. Therefore, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the country wagered the most money for example.

• Netherlands
• Malta
• Sweden
• Poland
• Denmark
• Iceland
• Singapore
• Norway
• New Zealand
• Lithuania

There are a few countries such as Malta and Singapore that we would expect to see on this list based on recent history. However, there are certainly a few surprises here. We will take a look at the top three in a little more depth to get a better understanding as to why the public within those countries has taken such a keen interest in the industry.

Netherlands

When it comes to the iGaming industry it would appear that the Dutch simply cannot get enough. We say that as the data reveals that the number of gambling related searches completed in the Netherlands per 100,000 people was over double that of second placed Malta. But why is that?

It’s likely due to the Dutch’s liberal outlook on life. However, if we look back through history gambling has always played a part in the Netherlands. This dates back to the 14th century when betting activities first burst onto the scene at festivals and other social events. Therefore, perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised by their inclusion on the list.

Another possible reason is that they introduced the remote gambling act last year. This means there are tighter rules and regulations, which in one sense could potentially reduce the number of online casinos. But on the other hand it gives players more reassurances and confidence that their personal and financial data is safe. They also know that any winnings they might accumulate will be paid out by a reputable online casino.

Malta

It will come as no surprise to see Malta on this list as it’s often referred to as the gambling capital of Europe. For this reason many betting operators set up their operations in Malta to stay close to the action. That and the fact that the tax benefits are advantageous.

We also cannot forget that Malta is also well placed to connect different parts of the world such as Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This means companies based there have the opportunity to access wider audiences.

And not only are many of the operators based there, some of the best software developers are too. These include power houses such as Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger Gaming, NetEnt and Yggdrasil Gaming.

Sweden

Some will be surprised to see Sweden on the list while others connected more closely with the industry probably won’t. The licensed gambling market in Sweden brought in over two billion pounds last year which was almost a 3% increase from the previous year.

The rise in online interest in Sweden is largely down to the fact that there are only four land-based casinos in the country and their future is in doubt. The government put forward a proposal last year to discontinue the Casino Cosmopol business who incidentally own all of the casinos. If this goes ahead the last land-based casino in Sweden could shut its doors by the 1st January 2026.