Why Mobile Casino Play Is Pulling Ahead of Sports Betting

Online casino revenue is growing, as sports betting fluctuates. But what are the reasons behind that?

Sports betting made the headlines when states legalized it on mobile. But its cousin, casino play on your phone, has quietly been growing faster. Operators are increasingly building for the phone first; the betway app in Ghana, for example, puts a full sportsbook and casino games behind a single login. The latest figures are eye-catching, so this is a good place to look if you want to know how you’ll be playing in the next few years.

What the Numbers Say

The American Gaming Association (AGA) reports that online casino revenue grew by 27.6% in 2025, reaching a record level of $10.7 billion across the seven states where it’s legal. Commercial sports betting grew 22.6%, to $16.9 billion. While the dollar amount is larger for the time being, online casino revenue in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, for the first time.

This year, casino’s growth lead is getting larger. In the second quarter, the AGA says, sports betting revenue fell 0.2% to $3.91 billion – a rare dip for the sector. Meanwhile, online casino revenue rose, by 16.5% to $3.03 billion. The AGA attributes the dip to a lower hold (the portion of wagers kept by operators) and flags the increasing effect of prediction markets on state budgets.

In Michigan, the pattern is even more pronounced. In Michigan’s August revenue report, online casino gross receipts reached $303 million. That’s nearly nine times the $34.6 million from online sports betting. Year over year, adjusted casino receipts grew 17.6% while sports betting’s fell 29.3%.

Why Phones Suit Casino Play

Begin with timing: sports betting is tied to a fixture list, leading to spikes of activity around marquee games, followed by dry spells. Casino games run when you do – a few spins on a lunch break fit well within a short session.

Phones also reduce the steps between you and the action: biometric log-ins and stored payment methods get you playing within a few seconds, while live dealer tables stream effortlessly onto a tiny screen. Layouts designed for phones help too: casino games sit in clear categories, while sports menus let you move between leagues and events quickly. Many apps even put sports and casino behind the same login, keeping a fan watching the game one tap from a slot. How apps bring casino games and sports betting together is another example of that phone-first approach.

Analysts at Track360 estimate that phones generate approximately 72% of global online gambling revenue this year, up from about 50% in 2019. They also note that it’s a modeled number, since regulators don’t publish device splits.

Mobile-First in Practice

Betway Ghana provides a useful look into what mobile-first play looks like. Its app page is where its players start; it leads to the iPhone and Android versions of the app. Once downloaded, the app brings together:

1. Live betting with cash out on a full sportsbook
2. Casino slots and live dealer tables under the same login
3. Jackpots and instant games
4. Mobile money deposits with biometric sign-in

This is convenient for players there, as one account covers everything. It’s convenient for you as well, as many US apps follow a similar blueprint: casino games sit alongside the sportsbook; payments are built for the phone. When sports and casino share one app, a night without big games still leaves you something to play. Finding that setup helps you judge any app you try. One caution: while the company operates across the globe (including in six US states, as well as Canada), Betway Ghana is licensed by the Gaming Commission of Ghana, exclusively to serve players there. US readers should stick to apps licensed in their own state.

Where Sports Betting Leads

Sports betting still has a size advantage. Commercial sportsbooks took in $16.9 billion in 2025 against $10.7 billion for online casino, a gap of about $6 billion; they also operate in far more states.

But big events can shift things back – the AGA says the World Cup helped lift July sports betting revenue 27% to $1.27 billion, while online casino revenue grew 15.7% to $1.01 billion. Hold swings can also have an impact. April’s 21.1% increase in sports betting revenue was largely driven by a higher hold (11.1%, up from 9.3%) since the amount wagered grew only 1.5%; the AGA also describes casino growth as moderating, with no new markets coming online.

So casino’s lead is about momentum, rather than size; it has outrun sports betting across 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, but a major tournament can flip a single month. Availability is key; only seven states were in the AGA’s 2025 online casino tally, with Pennsylvania the biggest at $3.46 billion, so where you are determines what you can play.

Playing Smart on Mobile

Whichever product you prefer, a few habits help keep mobile play enjoyable: stick to apps licensed in your state, so a state regulator oversees the operator. Check the licensing details before you fund an account, then set a limit before your first session – it’s the simplest safeguard there is.

Regulators can help as well. Michigan’s, for example, points residents to self-exclusion programs and free gambling-blocking software. As it notes, gambling should be treated as entertainment only – so budget it like any hobby or night out. Money isn’t the only cost; time is another. App timers in your phone’s screen-time settings can encourage breaks.

And remember: if play ever stops feeling like entertainment, 1-800-GAMBLER offers free, confidential help around the clock.