Analysis from the past year points to a significant shift in the global iGaming market. Mature jurisdictions are moving away from being dominated by a small number of providers. While Pragmatic Play remains the market leader in most European countries, its market share has been steadily declining. This has allowed Evolution and a growing number of other independent studios to fill the gap.
Analysis is based on Blask’s continuous game-visibility monitoring technology across the lobbies of major operators.
UK share falls despite top ranking
In the United Kingdom, Pragmatic Play held on to first place, but its share dropped from 15.53 per cent to 13.99 per cent. The decline is linked to the rise of partner studio Reel Kingdom, which nearly doubled its lobby presence on the back of popular Megaways and cluster-pays slots. Playtech also strengthened its position in the market, where it has traditionally been strong in classic slots and live games. Pressure on the leader is coming from both niche providers and a broader trend toward content diversification.
Evolution records sharp gains in Spain
Competition in Spain has intensified markedly. While both Pragmatic Play and Playtech increased their market share, the most notable move came from Evolution, whose share increased from 0.33 per cent to 5.58 per cent. This surge is attributed to its aggressive expansion of live casino content: Evolution has been promoting roulette, blackjack, and high-stakes game shows, which are very popular with Spanish players. The live segment is emerging as a key driver of market share redistribution.
Pragmatic Play and Playtech lose ground in Italy
Italy saw the most significant shift. Both Pragmatic Play and Playtech lost significant portions of their market share, while Evolution increased its presence from 0.13 per cent to 3.41 per cent. No single provider now has a clear lead in the country. Evolution’s growth here is again tied to the expansion of its live casino offering, as players are spreading their attention more evenly across providers.
Denmark also recorded particularly strong Evolution growth, correlating with rising demand for live games.
Pragmatic Play remains the leading provider in Germany and France
In Germany, Pragmatic Play remains the market’s strongest supplier despite its share falling from 17.39 per cent to 14.40 per cent. Hacksaw Gaming more than doubled its presence and is now close to the top positions. The provider’s success is driven by demand for high-volatility slots featuring innovative mechanics. Titles such as Wanted Dead or a Wild and Razor Returns have proven particularly popular with German players.
France presents the most balanced picture among European markets. Pragmatic Play overtook Play’n GO to take first place, but the gap between leading suppliers is narrow. This points to a mature demand pattern in which players do not concentrate on one or two providers but switch regularly between studios.
Independent studios gain ground in Sweden
In Sweden, all five of the largest providers lost share, while smaller studios continued to grow, signalling an increase in player interest in new and niche developers.
It is worth noting that the share of Swedish adults classified as problem gamblers has fallen by 35 per cent over the past decade to 57,000 people. Despite the decline in problem gambling, overall gambling participation remains high: according to a Casinofeber survey, one in six Swedes played at an online casino last year, and nearly one in four placed online bets.
RealTime Gaming and 3 Oaks lead outside Europe
Beyond Europe, market structures remain more concentrated. In the United States, RealTime Gaming leads convincingly with an 18.05 per cent market share, well ahead of other suppliers. Its position is supported by a strong slots portfolio and its ability to adapt to regulated-market requirements. In Australia, 3 Oaks Gaming took first place, overtaking Playson. Local player preferences and regulatory specifics are the key factors there, producing a structure that differs markedly from the European model.
Mature markets moving away from monopoly
According to Blask’s Head of Public Relations, Vitaliy Zubtsov, mature markets are no longer trending toward monopoly. Instead, fragmentation is underway, with regional preferences, the growth of live casino, and the activity of new studios gradually reshaping the competitive landscape in each individual jurisdiction.
‘A provider’s success increasingly depends on its ability to adapt to local preferences and the growing demand for live games,’ said Zubtsov. ‘In the long term, this will lead to a gradual reduction in market concentration, resulting in stronger competition between regional and niche studios.’
This article was first published in Russian on 28 May 2026.
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