The Lithuanian gambling industry has marked a significant growth milestone in the first half of 2024. The sector's revenue surged by 12.6% compared to the previous year, reaching a total of €116.0 million. This positive trend reflects a robust performance in online gambling, which has been pivotal in offsetting the downturn in land-based gaming activities.
Online Gambling Thrives
Online gambling in Lithuania has experienced a noteworthy boost, with revenue climbing 12.5% year-on-year to €72.2 million. This surge is driven by a notable increase in player spending, which rose by 8.7% to €1.05 billion, leading to total winnings of approximately $973.1 million.
Among the various online gaming segments, Category A slotshave emerged as the leading performers. These slots, which offer unlimited winnings, generated €53.5 million in revenue, outpacing other segments across both online and land-based markets. Player engagement with Category A slots was particularly strong, with spending reaching a record €627.7 million, marking a 6.2% increase from the previous year.
Conversely, Category B online slots, which have capped stakes and winnings, showed stagnation with a modest €1.8 million in revenue. Nevertheless, online table gamesperformed well, with revenue increasing by 11.7% to €6.7 million.
Sports betting also saw modest gains, with revenue rising by 1.6% to €19.3 million. Player wagers in this category grew by 2.4% to €289.0 million, indicating steady interest in sports betting despite the evolving landscape.
The land-based gambling sector in Lithuania faced a decline during the first half of 2024. Total revenue in this segment fell by 4.4% to €34.7 million, accompanied by a 5.6% drop in player stakes, which amounted to €217.8 million.
Among the land-based offerings, Category B slot machines were the top performers, generating €14.4 million in revenue. However, this figure represents a 6.5% decline from the previous year. Player stakes for Category B slots also decreased by 6.5% to €92.1 million.
In contrast, Category A slot machines experienced a 5.3% increase in revenue, reaching €7.9 million. Player stakes for these machines edged up by 4.7% to €31.8 million. Land-based table games saw a decline of 9.1% in revenue, totaling €8.0 million. Retail sports betting revenue also fell by 6.4%, coming in at €4.4 million.
Lottery Sector Shows Positive Results
The lottery sector in Lithuania has also reported positive growth. Gross gaming revenue from lotteries increased by 6.2% to €32.7 million in the first half of the year. This growth is attributed to a 4.0% rise in ticket sales, which reached €70.9 million. The total number of tickets sold increased by 1.1% to 50.4 million, while player winnings from lotteries grew by 2.3% to €38.1 million.
The Lithuanian gambling market has contributed significantly to the national tax revenue. The sector generated €37.6 million in tax revenue from the total gambling activities. Of this, €24.1 million was collected from gambling operators, while €13.5 million came from lottery providers.
The Lithuanian gambling industry has demonstrated robust growth in the first half of 2024, driven primarily by a thriving online gambling sector.
Source:
''I pusmečio veiklos rodikliai'', lpt.lrv.lt.
