How Global Online Poker Market Changes by 2034

​According to recent estimates, the global online poker market has significant growth opportunities in the 2025 to 2034 window. The CAGR will reach 15.2%, while the market share will scale from 6.27 billion USD to 22.36 billion USD. Customer involvement in online poker games will increase due to a variety of factors, such as switching to smartphones, 5G availability, and many more.

How Do Customer Preferences Evolve by 2034?

Customers are among the major driving forces of the market. On-the-go lifestyle impacts people's preferences in online poker, making them strive for speed, accessibility, and convenience. As a result, the online poker industry and operators integrate innovations based on how people play, how they pay, and what games they choose.

Net Banking Position is Strengthening

Increased security and larger limits for Net Banking payments boost its popularity. Despite the moderate processing speed, customers are expected to choose it more frequently in the next decade. 

Credit and debit card payments remain staples, the study reports. Poker players widely use these as fast and secure ways for transferring funds. However, many countries, including the UK, have imposed a ban on using credit cards for such purposes. Debit options are popular due to their low fees and cost control options. Visa and Mastercard are the leading debit solutions integrated with UK poker sites.

Texas Hold’em Will Remain Dominant

The study notes there won’t be a substantial change in the preferred game type – Texas Hold’em will keep its leadership position. But some growth trends for other poker variations are observed. Below is the quick breakdown of poker types that’ll be the most popular in the next decade:

• Texas Hold’em. This game is expected to have a 70%+ share. Hold’em will only solidify its position by 2034.
• Omaha. The discipline has seen a boost in tournament activity in the past few years that’ll keep increasing. Its annual growth rate is expected to reach 12%, the highest value ever observed. This trend applies to Pot-Limit Omaha and Hi-Lo.
• 7-Card Stud. Compared to the variations above, this one has a low estimated market share. Despite this, the discipline will still be a choice for many niche poker communities. British grinders can play it on PokerStars, William Hill, and Ladbrokes.

Even Bigger Shift Towards Smartphones

Desktop platforms had the largest market segment until 2024. The real-time statistics, HUD, multi-tabling support and other features made the amateur and professional players choose to play on PC. But the growing acceptance of smartphones will change their position in the next 10 years.

Major poker sites have already launched mobile apps to meet the customers' demands. iOS and Android platforms now support the same range of functions and features as desktops. And the mobile-first approach will remain a priority for operators.

Fastest Growing Market – Asia-Pacific

Increasing Internet access with 5G rollout, favourable regulatory requirements, and the launch of brands like 888poker in the Asia Pacific market promise it’ll have the highest growth potential. The anticipated growth rate is 11%.

Europe will remain the most influential, a home to the key poker rooms, leagues and tournaments (EPT). Some regions, like the United Kingdom, are leading in the membership and, correspondingly, the revenue. The UK position is the result of cutting-edge customer protection and regulatory policies.

With an estimated share of 21%, the North America region will continue its rapid expansion. If the regulatory progress across the USA continues, the customer interest will grow, which are the favourtable conditions for poker operators.

Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa show a gradual increase, with some regions in Africa and Latin America having a strong potential.

Technical Threats as Growth Restraints

Despite the abundance of factors that predict poker market growth, there are a few threats that can slow it down:

• Heavy regulations and bans. Many poker brands have to exit some countries. Government bans and restrictions are among the main obstacles for operators. These often apply to transactions from gambling sites as well.
• Security dangers. Both operators and their users face losses because of payment fraud and chargebacks. Multiple cyberattacks are aimed at stealing personal data. Strategy-optimised bots and predictors also undermine trust in brands.

The upcoming decade promises massive transformations for the online poker market. A lot of work has to be done by the operators to meet the evolving customer preferences and avoid major challenges.