Key Stats from the Gaming World

In the technology field, the gaming industry has emerged as a powerful disruptor. The trends that have emerged in gaming over the past few decades have completely revolutionised technological advancement and even gone on to influence the fields of entertainment, leisure and sport. Just think about the way that you watch your favourite TV series or movie in 2024: it’s highly likely that you tune in on your laptop or PC via a streaming platform like Netflix.

So, given that gaming has become so influential in many areas of modern life, it makes sense to check out some of the latest key statistics from the gaming world. Since the industry is so diverse and contains many different segments, we’ve categorised these stats into general gaming, iGaming (online casino, poker and sports betting activities) and mobile gaming. 

General Gaming Stats

• Over 39% of the world’s population plays video games

According to the latest market data from Statista, there are currently around 3.09 billion gamers in the world right now — that’s almost half of the total human population on the planet! And among that total, at least 2.82 billion play their chosen games online. 

• The Gaming industry as a whole is worth $184 billion

The latest Newzoo Games Market report indicates that heading into 2024, the global gaming industry as a whole has generated a whopping $184 billion in revenues. What’s more, it’s predicted to grow at a CAGR of 1.3% over the next two years to reach $205.7 billion. 

• 83% of game sales happen online

In stark contrast to the state of the gaming industry just a decade ago, 83% of video game sales now happen in the digital realm. During pre-internet times, video game purchases were, of course, made in-store, but that purchasing trend continued well into the 21st century. 

• The PC is still a gamer favourite

Despite the advances that have been made in games consoles and the rise of mobile gaming (more on that below), the humble PC continues to appeal to present day gamers. According to Statista, 40.3% of revenues for 2023 came from PC gaming sales. 

iGaming Stats

iGaming is a rapidly growing sector in the gaming industry that has garnered a lot of attention in the past few years due to global expansion. The segment encompasses an array of digital real money activities, with a primary focus on virtual casinos, sports betting, poker, lotteries and games like Bingo.

The surge in growth of iGaming can be attributed to several factors, both on a technological and legislative basis. However, it’s the digitalisation of traditional casino games such as roulette that has contributed the most growth. The migration of well-established games to the digital realm has even introduced innovative variants that appeal to a wider audience than a brick-and-mortar venue could typically reach. Thanks to iGaming innovation, enthusiasts can enjoy engaging in a variety of real money activities from the comfort of their own homes

• iGaming is worth $95 billion in 2024

New insights from iGaming analysts suggest that the sector as a whole is now worth $95 billion, growing from $45.7 billion in 2019. This figure represents an impressive average annual growth rate of 20%. 

• The UK and the US are the top two markets

While iGaming is experiencing significant growth in developing economies, the United States and the UK remain the two top markets, contributing to over one third of total annual revenues. In the UK alone, online casinos generated over £3.2 billion in revenue. 

• The casino segment has more than doubled from 2019 to 2023

Speaking of online casinos, globally, the sector has grown by 110% from 2019 to 2023. Revenues rose from $16.6 billion to $34.8 billion during the period, according to Statista. 

Mobile Gaming Stats 

Unsurprisingly, given the huge strides forward that smartphone innovation has made in recent years, mobile gaming has emerged to be a dominant force in the gaming industry. The improved processing power of mobile devices has enabled developers to release diverse gaming apps, ranging from hypercasual puzzlers to console-quality AAA experiences. Moreover, the ubiquity and affordability of smartphones coupled with UX-integrated app stores has helped democratise gaming, making it more accessible to a broader global audience. 

• Mobile games are worth $90.4 billion

Mobile is once again the most popular sector in the gaming industry, generating revenues of $90.4 billion in 2023 that represent 49% of the total market. If Newzoo’s predictions are anything to go by, in the next three years it could be worth as much as $118.90 billion. 

• Over a billion games are downloaded per week

In 2024, the popularity of mobile gaming is far from over. New data from Data.ai (formerly App Annie) shows that 1.1 billion new mobile gaming apps are downloaded worldwide on a weekly basis.