Chapter 5 - iGaming’s Secret Boom
- Narcis Gavrilescu
- Sep 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 15
Between 2010 and 2015, iGaming went through a period of accelerated global expansion.
Even if there was a depression after UIGEA blocked US access, the new law fonly encouraged a new generation eager to explore global growth. Mobile betting was on the rise, landmark legalizations were brewing in the US, new markets were emerging in Asia. It looked like a set of fresh standards.
Poker Black Friday was a blood bath and the emergence of crypto casinos (yes, they started showing up around 2012) showed that iGaming was moving forward.
What happened in iGaming between 2010-2015?
These five years were marked by some interesting new global trends. User habits shifted and going worldwide seemed more palpable. The three key drivers that defined this timeline are:
Mobile tech: gambling via smartphones became mainstream. Casino operators rushed to optimize software for touch screens.
Regulatory progress: multiple regions legalized and regulated online gaming markets, creating new opportunities and compliance standards. Europe and select US states particularly stood out.
Player engagement and safety: UX and responsible gaming saw major improvements, shifting more to a culture of trust and long term player retention.
The iGaming smartphone revolution
The most significant development during this period was mobile gaming, which began around 2010. The introduction of smartphones, particularly with the launch of iOS in 2007 and Android in 2008, created a new territory to be explored by online casino operators. But it wasn't until the early 2010s that tech was mature enough to support more sophisticated gambling applications.
Initially, mobile casino offerings were adaptations of desktop sites. There were many limitations due to Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technology, which only allowed basic gameplay. No real money was involved.
The first big milestone started a bit earlier with the App Store launch in July 2008 and Google Play in 2009, which provided game developers direct access to consumers without having to negotiate with phone manufacturers and mobile network operators.
Texas Hold'em was one of the most downloaded paid apps within five hours of the App Store launch, which showed a clear and immediate appetite for mobile gambling entertainment. By 2010, many online casinos had optimized their platforms for mobile devices - the massive shift in player behavior we were talking about.
The mobile revolution was particularly transformative because it addressed a fundamental desire for accessibility and convenience.
Players could now play on their favorite casinos anywhere, anytime, without being locked to desktop computers. This shift was so profound that by the mid 2010s, online casino operators reported over 80% of their betting activity coming from mobile channels. And mobile activity today is a clear indicator of "natural traffic".
What were the US iGaming legalization events between 2010-2015
The United States, long a patchwork due to the 2006 UIGEA, saw some big changes:
Black Friday in online poker (2011): federal indictments against the largest poker sites (Full Tilt, PokerStars, and Absolute Poker) effectively shut down much of US online poker and forced operators to rethink doing business.
State-level breakthroughs (2013): Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey legalized and regulated online gambling offering secure, legal options for US gamblers for the first time since UIGEA. Casino, poker and sports betting were allowed with strict regulatory oversight.
This state by state approach was only the foundation for future legal online casinos and sports betting in America which later saw growing adoption nationwide.
The rise of APAC
Asia Pacific surprised everyone. It rose as the world’s fastest-growing regional gaming market, jumping from $34 billion in 2010 to over $79 billion in 2015. At the time, PwC's predicted growth trajectory positioned the region to overtake the United States as the world's largest gaming market by 2013. Macau and Singapore in particular drew much attention (and enormous investments).
Macau's gaming revenue peaked at 360 billion patacas in 2013 - nearly eight times that of the Las Vegas Strip during the same year. Casino was contributing 88% of Macau's GDP, making it one of the most gaming dependent economies in the world.
However Macau's gaming revenue peaked at 360 billion patacas in 2013 - nearly eight times that of the Las Vegas Strip during the same year. Casino was contributing 88% of Macau's GDP, making it one of the most gaming dependent economies in the world.
The decline was primarily attributed to Beijing's anti-corruption campaign which was targeting high stakes gamblers, fundamentally eliminating the market dynamics that had driven explosive growth in the early 2010s.
Singapore had one of the most successful entries into the casino gaming market in history. The numbers give you all the overview you need: Singapore's gaming revenue sky rocketed from 0 in 2009 to $4.4 billion in 2011, with projections reaching $7.2 billion by 2015. This was the fastest gaming market in the world, putting the country right at the top next to Macau.
There was a Marina Bay Sands' investment ($5.5 billion) which aimed to create a stunninge entertainment complex: 2,560 hotel rooms, shopping mall, convention center, restaurants, bars, and the iconic SkyPark (SEO strikes again with Evolution Malta having had its operations in the SkyParks building in Malta). The grand opening celebration on June 23, 2010, featured 4,000 VIPs and spectacular programming including the first ever World Championship Climb to the SkyPark.
Some key developments for the region:
Increased mobile adoption (especially in China)
A growing middle class with disposable income for entertainment
Regulatory developments in various jurisdictions
Expansion of international operators into Asian markets
Most attractive emerging markets at the time:Â Japan, South Korea, Philippines.
European regulatory evolution:
Europe continued to lead in a sensible, consumer focused digital regulation:
Malta’s dominance: The MGA rapidly grew its licensee base, helping small and large operators access pan-EU markets. It becoming Europe’s iGaming hub, with more and more brands licensed under its jurisdiction than any other authority.
Local patchworks: markets like the UK, France and Italy built tailored regulatory frameworks. UK’s Gambling Commission and France’s ARJEL required local licensing, consumer protections, and responsible gambling initiatives, making them gold standards.
Cross-border challenges: EU debated around poker liquidity sharing and regulatory harmonization began to gain traction, though local barriers persisted.
Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain:
By 2014–2015, select operators began accepting Bitcoin and exploring cryptocurrencies as a form of payment. This set the stage for provably fair gaming in later years.
The first ever crypto casino was SatoshiDice, which launched in 2012 and is widely considered the pioneer of crypto gambling. Just like casinos started popping up like mushrooms in '97-'98 after Microgaming's pioneering moves, so too did crypto casinos appear after Satoshi's success:
The Big Numbers: Industry Growth and Economic Impact
Global online gambling revenue grew sharply, with total casino and betting GGR (gross gaming revenue) climbing from $117.6 billion in 2010 to $182.8 billion in 2015.
Asia Pacific overtook the US, accounting for 43.4% of global gaming revenues by 2015, compared to 40.1% for the US and just 10% for EMEA.
European licensing surged: Malta, UK, and other regulators issued hundreds of new licenses as operators scrambled to access regulated markets.
Mobile gaming boom: Mobile betting’s share of online GGR in European markets grew from under 10% in 2010 to well over 35% by 2015.
Regulatory Fragmentation:
Patchwork regulation meant operators had to adapt software and compliance to individual country rules, raising costs but also increasing consumer protection.
Responsible Gaming:
Regulators and operators introduced:
Self-exclusion tools
Deposit limits
Enhanced player ID verification
Anti-money laundering protocols
These efforts boosted player safety, brand trust, and long-term sustainability.
Timeline: iGaming Milestones 2010–2015
Market Data Table: Casino Gambling Revenue by Region (2010–2015)
Conclusion:
The 2010–2015 era was a defining period for iGaming globally, the combination of mobile revolution, regulatory reform and cross border innovation made it a perfect recipe for innovation.
From the US’s state-level breakthroughs to Asia Pacific’s stunning market expansion and Europe’s growing regulatory sophistication, online gambling was entering a new age defined by accessibility, transparency and player empowerment. These advances set the stage for the maturing, highly regulated and technology driven industry it would continue to evolve as.