Paris Olympic Games Expected to Propel Betting App Market to Even Greater Heights

A new analysis of sports betting apps on the Google Play Store by app growth solutions company, SplitMetrics, has revealed that the UK betting market has experienced unprecedented growth during the Euro 2024 and Royal Ascot competitions.

Betting apps added 395k new Android users during the Euro 2024 competition, 7% more than the last major football competition, the World Cup 2022, which saw 367k new users.

The Paris Olympic Games is expected to propel the betting app market to even greater heights. The gambling industry has seen a strong start to the year with downloads up by approximately 30% compared to 2023. New users for the UK’s top 17 betting apps in 2024 currently stand at 2.3 million with over 20 million total lifetime downloads. With 66.7 million adults in the UK, it means that nearly one in three people now bet on Android apps.

If these trends continue the sector could add over 4 million for 2024 compared to the estimated 3 million in both 2023 and 2022. This would be a record-breaking year for the industry helped by major sporting and horse racing events. A previous survey found that The Grand National and Cheltenham led to download numbers increasing by an average of 64% in the week leading to the races. On average new download numbers in 2024 for the UK’s top 17 gambling apps on Android are 81k per week, however, the Grand National saw 124k, Royal Ascot 124k and Cheltenham 143k – the highest download weeks of the year by a considerable margin.

The top five sports gambling apps that added the most Android users as analysed through the App Radar by SplitMetrics platform are bet365, Paddy Power, Sky Bet, Betfair and William Hill.

The top five apps in terms of lifetime downloads are bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, William Hill and Ladbrokes.

Thomas Kriebernegg, General Manager of SplitMetrics Agency, said: “The unprecedented growth of the betting app market is a clear indicator of the industry’s dynamic evolution. With major sporting events such as Euro 2024 and Royal Ascot driving significant user acquisition, we’ve witnessed a surge in app downloads and engagement that surpasses previous records. The fact that nearly one in three adults in the UK now bet on Android apps is a testament to the industry’s widespread appeal.

“Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, we anticipate an even more explosive period of growth. The combination of global attention, competitive spirit, and the convenience of mobile betting creates a perfect storm for the industry.

“App marketers have a unique opportunity to capitalise on this momentum by developing highly targeted campaigns that resonate with sports fans and casual bettors alike. By leveraging data insights and innovative marketing strategies, betting apps can not only attract new users but also cultivate long-lasting customer loyalty.”