Learn all about the biggest names in online gambling in 2022. We explore the origins and future of gambling giants like Playtech and Bet365!
The future of gambling is online. People can now access casino gambling from anywhere using a smartphone. When the pandemic restrictions shut casino resorts for weeks and months in 2020-21, millions of players discovered online gambling as a viable and convenient alternative.
Thousands of brand new online casinos and sportsbooks are getting launched each year. If you’re looking to play at new South African Online Casinos with some of the freshest promotions, look no further, because Zebra Casino has got you sorted.
With major countries like the US legalizing online gambling, the industry is on a roll. Worth $72 billion in 2022, it is expanding by 12% CAGR each year. Soon, the industry will cross the $100 billion thresholds by 2025.
And these are the companies poised to make the most of all this growth in 2022:
Playtech
From its obscure origins in Estonia in 1999, Playtech has come a long way in the last two decades. Based in the UK territory of the Isle of Man, this company is considered one of the top-three gambling software providers in the world.
Playtech has the largest selection of online video slots, table games, and live dealer solutions among software vendors. They also offer live poker, bingo, and sports betting solutions. Both bricks-and-mortar casinos and online sites use Playtech software.
With annual revenues exceeding a billion dollars, Playtech is already a hegemon. But they have a chance to get even bigger, thanks to the newly opened US market. Through partnerships with US giants like MGM, Playtech has already started offering live casino services in many US states.
Flutter Entertainment Group
The result of countless mergers and acquisitions, the company named Flutter is a gambling and sports betting conglomerate of epic proportions. Paddy Power, Betfair, and the Stars Group are the main entities that merged to create this Irish behemoth.
With listings on the London Stock Exchange and FTSE 100 index, Flutter is the biggest corporation in the betting and gambling sectors. Like a Hydra with many heads, the company operates under numerous brands – PokerStars, Betfair, FanDuel, PaddyPower, Sky Bet, and Adjarabet to name a few.
Flutter was officially born in 2015 after a merger between Paddy Power and Betfair. But the name Flutter was only announced as part of a rebranding in 2019. The name comes from a betting exchange acquired by Betfair way back in 2001.
The main reason to watch Flutter in 2022 is their American foray. Through its high-profile acquisition of fantasy sports brand FanDuel, Flutter expanded its reach to millions of new customers in the US. The $4.18 billion deal is already paying dividends.
Pragmatic Play
Although considerably smaller than some of the other names listed so far, this company is seriously worth a look in 2022. Despite being a young entity launched recently in 2015, Pragmatic Play has expanded rapidly to become a major name in the online casino software industry.
Located in Malta, the company has a strong presence in the EU and the UK markets. Players from South America and Asian countries are also quite familiar with Pragmatic Play slots and table games. The company also started offering live dealer games in 2019, further enhancing its appeal.
Pragmatic Play is of special interest to African players as the company has set sights on the continent. In 2021, they inked a deal with Supabets, an online wagering operator from South Africa. With hundreds of new online casinos offering Pragmatic Play software, the vendor is poised for continued success in 2022.
Aspire Global
Aspire Global operates strictly in the B2B realm of online casinos and sports betting. This means that millions of players who use their products may not even be aware of the name. This company offers a wide array of online casino software and management solutions to casino operators.
If you want to open an online casino in 2022, you would need to approach a specialized service provider like Aspire Global to make things easier. They even create and lease fully-developed white-label online casinos.
Founded in 2005, Aspire Global has become a major player in the EU and UK online gambling business. Hundreds of online casinos and sportsbooks are based on Aspire Global platforms. The company has a presence in over 14 markets.
Crucially, one of those markets happens to be the United States. Aspire has partnerships with major brands like Pariplay and 888 Holdings. With the online business in the US still in its infancy, established EU gambling companies like Aspire have a great demand due to their expertise and experience.
Bet365
Launched from a temporary base in Stoke in the year 2000, Bet365 has grown into the biggest UK gambling company in 2022. They are a very public brand, with stadiums and sports team sponsorships by the dozen. Major football clubs often carry the Bet365 logo.
However, the ownership of the company remains very much in private hands. The Coates family launched Bet365 and they still retain full control over the company which has 5000 employees and annual revenue of over $3 billion.
Bet365 services and products are available in all major markets across the globe, including Africa. In the US, they already have a firm presence in New Jersey, Colorado, and other legal betting markets. The company offers sports betting and online casino services to its players under a strategic partnership with local brands like Hard Rock Casino and Empire Casino.
