EvenBet Gaming has published its 2025 iGaming Industry Report, drawing on responses from more than 700 professionals surveyed in person between January and July 2025 across events in Europe, Asia and South America. The results indicate a noticeable shift in business priorities compared to 2024.
Growth slows, focus shifts to marketing
In last year’s report, expansion into new markets topped the list of company objectives. Many operators were awaiting regulatory developments in Brazil, monitoring progress across Asia or exploring emerging regions such as Africa.
However, 2025 has brought new challenges. Brazil’s regulatory landscape has proven more complex than expected, while several Asian markets have moved in a restrictive direction – highlighted by India’s real-money gaming ban and Thailand’s suspension of its casino bill.
As a result, the industry’s priorities have shifted. According to EvenBet’s findings, marketing activity – either refreshing strategies or boosting performance – now leads as the primary focus for 24% of respondents. Company expansion in size follows at 17%, while new market entry has dropped sharply to 13%, down from 28% in 2024.
At the same time, marketing has become more expensive and less straightforward. Advertising restrictions, increased competition and privacy regulations such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have challenged user acquisition. Operators and suppliers alike are turning to retention and engagement strategies to maximise lifetime value from existing users and customers.
Responsible gaming rises above innovation
The 2024 report ranked innovation adoption as the industry’s third-biggest challenge, behind regulation and competition. In 2025, it has fallen to sixth place (8%), while responsible gaming has moved up to third (13%). Regulation still leads the list of concerns with 19% of total votes, and even more to CEOs and founders (23%).
The shift reflects a growing tension between compliance demands and innovation goals. With regulatory scrutiny increasing, companies in regulated markets are becoming more cautious, often prioritising compliance over experimentation that could risk penalties.
In Asia, responsible gaming now ranks alongside competition as the top industry challenge.
Changing priorities in talent acquisition
The study also reveals a notable shift in what attracts professionals to igaming companies. In 2024, the top considerations were a supportive professional team and a high salary.
This year, a high salary has dropped to fourth place. The most desirable attributes are now a dynamic and expanding company (20%), followed by a supportive team (19%) and a well-known brand (19%).
The findings suggest that industry talent – particularly younger professionals – are increasingly motivated by career growth, professional impact and responsibility, rather than immediate financial incentives. The exception remains technical roles, where financial compensation still ranks highly.
The full 2025 iGaming Industry Trend Report is available for free download from EvenBet Gaming’s website.
Dmitry Starostenkov is the CEO of EvenBet Gaming, a leading company in the igaming sector, where he drives innovation and strategic growth. With over two decades of experience in the high-tech and IT industries, Starostenkov has been at the forefront of the igaming revolution since 2004, serving as the head of EvenBet Gaming, a premier provider of poker software. His deep understanding of software development, market expansion, and sales strategies has made him a respected figure in the field.
As a founder and business angel of several startups, Starostenkov excels in strategic management and has helped numerous ventures thrive through his expertise in market development and software marketing. A frequent speaker at major igaming events, Starostenkov shares his knowledge and insights at conferences and panel discussions, positioning himself as an industry thought leader.
The post EvenBet’s 2025 research finds igaming moves beyond its boom phase first appeared on EGR Intel.
In this article, brought to you by EvenBet Gaming, CEO Dmitry Starostenkov reviews early findings from the company’s annual trend report and what they suggest about the industry’s current trajectory
The post EvenBet’s 2025 research finds igaming moves beyond its boom phase first appeared on EGR Intel.