Gaming & Entertainment

The Gaming & Entertainment market is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by technological advancements, evolving consumer behaviors, and dynamic monetization strategies. Leading players such as Sony, Microsoft, Tencent, and Activision Blizzard continue to consolidate market leadership, while emerging challengers leverage cloud gaming, AI-driven personalization, and immersive content to capture niche segments. Gaming & Entertainment market key trends include the rapid expansion of mobile gaming, which accounted for approximately 49% of global gaming revenue in 2024, cross-platform integration, and the growing prominence of esports as a revenue-driving segment. Regionally, Asia-Pacific maintains a dominant market share, complemented by North America and Europe. Product portfolios span console, PC, mobile, and cloud-based platforms, with PC gaming representing around 23% of global revenue in 2024, addressing a wide spectrum of gamer demographics and consumption patterns.

Innovation within the gaming and entertainment market is particularly evident in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), which are increasingly central to immersive content strategies and engagement metrics. Player engagement in online games remains strong, supported by extended weekly playtime, community participation, and subscription-based models. Consumer behavior insights reveal a growing preference for personalized, socially integrated, and interactive experiences, which inform platform adoption, pricing models, and in-game purchase behavior. Strategic monetization frameworks, including freemium models, tiered subscriptions, and microtransactions, are driving incremental revenue growth. Cloud gaming adoption, AI-enhanced game development, and 5G-enabled experiences are further enabling seamless content delivery and retention strategies.

Market capitalisation and revenue generation within the global gaming industry reached USD 184 billion in 2024, outpacing traditional entertainment verticals such as film and music and highlighting the sector’s strategic economic significance. The Gaming & Entertainment market is experiencing structural shifts driven by mobile-first adoption, immersive VR/AR experiences, and diversified content monetization across casual and hardcore segments. As digital consumption intensifies and player engagement deepens, the gaming and entertainment industry is evolving into a multi-dimensional ecosystem, integrating gaming, streaming, esports, and interactive entertainment. This transformation is redefining competitive positioning, revenue models, and long-term value creation across global markets.

Dominant Segment
Mobile Gaming
User Age Group
18–34 yrs
Regional Dominance
Asia-Pacific

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Online Gambling
The global online gambling market was valued at approximately USD 75.5 billion in 2024 and a CAGR of around 9.2% during the forecast period. The market growth is driven by increasing adoption of online casino, sports betting, poker online, digital betting, and mobile gambling platforms across regions. Expanding internet penetration, smartphone usage, and the rise of online lottery, casino games, online slots, and live dealer games are further fueling online gaming platforms and betting apps. Online gambling market growth is influenced by online betting trends, online sportsbooks, virtual betting, and evolving online gaming technology, while innovations in crypto gambling, fantasy sports betting, and interactive platforms are enhancing user engagement. In North America, the online gambling market holds the largest share of online wagering, with strong demand for online casino and sports betting platforms. Regulatory frameworks, including gambling regulations and responsible gaming policies, shape market operations and influence online betting platforms and gambling software adoption. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, supported by digital adoption, mobile penetration, and increasing popularity of e-gaming and live dealer games, while regulatory oversight ensures fair play and consumer protection. Online gambling industry Key players include Flutter Entertainment (FanDuel, PokerStars), Entain Plc, Bet365, DraftKings, Evolution Gaming, and Scientific Games, leveraging advanced online gaming technology, innovative gambling software, and mobile gambling solutions to expand market presence. Strengths include wide-ranging casino games, fantasy sports betting, and global online sportsbooks, while challenges involve regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, and responsible gambling concerns. Strategic partnerships, M&A activity, and investment in digital betting infrastructure are driving market expansion. Overall, the online gambling market is poised for robust growth, with increasing online gambling revenue, widespread adoption of online betting platforms, and continuous innovation in online gaming platforms, crypto gambling, and virtual betting solutions, positioning the industry for long-term sustainable growth.
Video Games
The global video games market is experiencing robust growth, with 2024 valuations estimated at approximately USD 198 billion. The market is driven by rising adoption of console games, PC games, mobile games, and online gaming platforms, alongside surging interest in esports, competitive gaming, and multiplayer games. North America remains a key revenue leader, supported by strong demand for gaming consoles, gaming peripherals, and advanced gaming laptops, while Europe and Asia-Pacific are seeing rapid expansion fuelled by smartphone penetration, digital distribution, and immersive experiences in VR gaming, AR games, and cloud gaming. Video games market trends such as game streaming, in-game purchases, and subscription-based models are reshaping revenue streams and user engagement, with game developers and game publishers investing in innovative game engines, interactive storytelling, and social gaming features. The trade of gaming hardware, consoles, and accessories falls under specialized HS codes for electronics and entertainment devices, requiring compliance with import/export regulations, taxes, and certifications. Video Game industry growth is also supported by the rising popularity of indie games, gaming accessories, and next-gen gaming experiences. Regulatory frameworks around content, age ratings, and in-game purchases influence both market operations and monetization strategies. Asia-Pacific, led by China, Japan, and South Korea, is emerging as a high-growth region for mobile games and online gaming, with local governments promoting esports tournaments and gaming events while enforcing responsible gaming guidelines. Key players in the video game industry include Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo, Tencent Games, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Epic Games, with competitive positioning strengthened through game revenue, immersive content, gaming innovations, and global community engagement. Investment activity includes venture funding for gaming platforms, acquisitions of game developers, and sponsorships for esports and gaming tournaments. Overall, the outlook for the video games market is highly positive, with opportunities across gaming consoles, PC and mobile games, cloud gaming, VR/AR experiences, and the broader gaming community. Continuous innovation in gaming platforms, competitive gaming, and next-gen gaming technologies is expected to drive sustained growth, enhancing game sales, expanding audiences, and shaping the future of the video game industry worldwide.

Industry definition

Gaming & Entertainment industry includes the creation, development, distribution and monetization of interactive digital content, video games, mobile applications and entertainment media across multiple platforms, including consoles, PCs, mobile devices and cloud streaming. The value chain integrates game design, software development, content creation, marketing, distribution and post-launch support, ensuring engagement, innovation and monetization efficiency. Leading global players such as Tencent, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard dominate the landscape, while indie developers and emerging cloud gaming platforms are reshaping market dynamics through niche content, subscription models and immersive experiences.