Online gambling operators‘ mobile businesses currently average 23% of total revenue – but stagnation may be ahead

London/Munich, 21 April 2014 – For more than three years now the online gambling industry has declared the mobile channel its key growth driver. However, although the mobile business is becoming more and more important, operators do not (yet) have consistent reporting standards (KPIs) regarding their mobile revenues. In its newest Online Gambling Quarterly report (Q1 2014) MECN‘s researchers therefore try to crack this tough nut and analyse several mobile KPIs and their development in recent years and quarters.

Mobile growth development – still difficult to benchmark
Many online gambling operators do not (yet) have consistent reporting standards (KPIs) regarding their mobile revenues. Also not all KPIs are reported consistently by all operators for every quarter or half years. In regard to comparable benchmarks „only“ two KPIs are currently usable: 1.) mobile betting stakes/revenues in of total betting stakes/revenues and 2.) total mobile revenue in of total revenue.

Mobile business makes currently in average 23% of total revenue
Initially, the mobile figures that were reported focused on betting stakes or revenues because operators in the past focused primarily on launching mobile betting offers. Recently, the mobile revenue generated by the casino, bingo, and poker verticals/segments has become more and more relevant. Therefore, more and more operators additionally/instead report the mobile revenue in % of total revenue across all verticals.

Our analyses of the mobile business of key online gambling operators provide the following insights:

  • *Mobile total revenue in of total revenue* – On average, the operators analysed generate 23 of their total online revenue via mobile channels.
  • *Mobile betting stakes/revenues in of total betting stakes/revenues* – On average, the operators analysed generate 40 of their total online betting stakes/revenue via mobile channels.
Mobile revenue in % of total revenue - Q4/2013
Mobile revenue in % of total revenue – Q4/2013

Growth trends, stagnation ahead?
As figures for the mobile channels have only begun to be reported recently, it’s difficult to analyse any growth trends. But it seems that at least for some companies the mobile share has begun to stagnate in recent quarters. Moreover, the year-to-year growth seems to decrease for some operators; nevertheless, growth rates above 100% still put mobile at the top of executive agendas.

Online Gambling Quarterly – Q1 2014 – Comprehensive quarterly report analysing updated benchmarks, KPIs, trends, … covering all sectors of the online gambling industry
This quarterly report covers a wide range of topics from key company sectors, such as finance, marketing, strategy, …. Due to this extensive coverage, the report is a must-read for executives and departments of all companies active in the online gambling market.

This regular report offers unprecedented insights into the industry, including:

  • Strategic issues – Strategic topics, such as overall industry climate, trends, forecasts, stock development, …
  • Financial benchmarks – Quarterly and half-year revenue benchmarks, EBIT, and cost benchmarks, …
  • Marketing benchmarks – Social benchmarks, SEO benchmarks, affiliate marketing benchmarks, …
  • Product-related topics and benchmarking – Growth potential for selected products, benchmarking of product offers, …
  • Analyses of regions and regulated markets – Regional analyses, such as the level of internationalization and in-depth coverage of regulated markets, …
  • In total, the report has ca. 100 pages and ca. 150 graphs/exhibits.

    The study can be obtained at www.mecn.net or the report website.