U.S. comeback of Polymarket: Escalation of problem gambling Mitigated Successfully
The gambling industry in 2025 is seeing a surge of activity, with significant acquisitions, new casino projects, and enhanced responsible gambling measures shaping the landscape.
- Acquisitions:
Gambling.com Group is leading the charge with its acquisition-driven growth strategy. In 2023-2024, key acquisitions like RotoWire and Freebets.com expanded their performance marketing capabilities, driving a 33% increase in Adjusted EBITDA in 2024. In January 2025, they acquired Odds Holdings, Inc., expecting an additional $14.5 million in Adjusted EBITDA, and projecting 35-40% EBITDA growth in 2025.
DoubleDown Interactive is also making moves, acquiring WHOW Games GmbH, a German social casino operator, for around €55 million (~$64.7 million), targeting growth in the European market, particularly Germany.
Industry-wide, other notable deals include Flutter gaining full ownership of FanDuel after a $1.8 billion agreement with Boyd Gaming and Intralot acquiring Bally’s international interactive business for €2.7 billion, reflecting ongoing consolidation.
- New Casino Projects:
While specific land-based casino projects in 2025 are not detailed, the focus remains heavily on digital/social casinos. DoubleDown’s acquisition and Gambling.com’s digital marketing expansion exemplify this trend. A broader trend is toward integrating lottery, iGaming, and sports betting verticals, such as Bally’s lottery-iGaming combination.
- Responsible Gambling Measures:
Specific responsible gambling initiatives are lightly referenced. The Ontario gaming authority’s approval of PointsBet’s acquisition by Mixi in July 2025 suggests regulatory scrutiny and adherence to responsible gambling standards within such deals. Industry consolidation often accompanies increased investments in compliance and responsible gambling technologies, though explicit new measures for 2025 were not detailed in the search results.
In Brazil, Evolution Gaming has opened its first dedicated live casino studio, bringing Portuguese-speaking live dealers and localized games. Evolution plans to localize popular games such as Blackjack Clássico, Blackjack Illimitado, and Brazilian Blackjack, as well as XXXTreme Lightning Roulette and Crazy Time in Brazil.
In the US, the US government has dropped probes into Polymarket, providing an opportunity for the company to return to the United States. The proposed Resorts World New York City resort would house 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, and 2,000 hotel rooms, presenting a vision for the largest fully integrated resort in New York State.
BetParx has partnered with IC360, gaining access to Integrity Monitoring Dashboard, ProhiBet, and Playbook AI tools for monitoring suspicious betting activity, further emphasizing the industry's commitment to responsible gambling.
The latest survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) indicates that the number of problem gamblers in the US remains at 8%, with 23% of the population participating in sports betting. A US News survey found that 30% of participants carry debt due to gambling activities, and 25% have skipped on bills to fund their gambling habits, underscoring the importance of responsible gambling measures.
In an interview with our website News, beBettor Chief Insights Officer, Sonny Cott, discussed the importance of assessing the wealth profile of affiliate traffic for iGaming operators, while Ralitsa Georgieva, Octoplay's Director of Business Development, spoke about the studio's strategy and product development.
Koin has announced a new Head of AI and Data Strategy position filled by Hemash Bhatti, and our website published a video interview with Matej Novota, Head of Casino Research, discussing the success of the Fair Gambling Codex and Complaint Resolution Center.
The acquisition of QCX, LLC by Polymarket was confirmed by Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, and Evolution has also opened its first dedicated live casino studio in Brazil.
In summary, the gambling industry in 2025 is marked by robust acquisition activity, especially in digital and social casino sectors, with companies aiming to consolidate and expand market reach in the U.S. and Europe. Responsible gambling considerations remain integral to regulatory approvals of mergers and acquisitions but are not the headline focus in current news.
- Casino-and-gambling activities:
The gambling industry in 2025 is witnessing a surge of activity in both land-based and digital casinos, with key players like Gambling.com Group, DoubleDown Interactive, Flutter, Intralot, and Bally's spearheading the growth.
- Casino-games and casino-culture:
Evolution Gaming has ventured into the Brazilian market by opening a dedicated live casino studio, offering localized versions of popular casino games such as Blackjack Clássico, Blackjack Illimitado, and Brazilian Blackjack. In the US, the proposed Resorts World New York City resort showcases a vision for an integrated resort featuring over 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, and 2,000 hotel rooms.
- Sports betting:
The US government's decision to drop probes into Polymarket presents an opportunity for the company to re-enter the American market. The latest survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling indicates that 23% of the US population participates in sports betting, with 30% of participants carrying debt and 25% skipping on bills due to gambling activities.
- Responsible gambling:
Specific responsible gambling initiatives include BetParx's partnership with IC360, granting access to monitoring tools, and the Ontario gaming authority's approval of PointsBet's acquisition by Mixi, suggesting compliance with responsible gambling standards. The importance of responsible gambling measures is underscored by the National Council on Problem Gambling's survey findings.
