Understanding why mobile gambling has become popular among punters
Within the last decade, the use of mobile phones has been going up at a very high rate with every waking day. Actually, there will be more mobile phones than people in 2025. In 2024, there were over 7.2 billion smartphones worldwide (90% of all cellular phones), and the global market is expected to increase by 3.09% in 2025. In the US, at least 95% of people have some form of cell phone.
With this whole penetration, the gambling world has seen an opportunity and is well utilizing it. More operators have been optimizing their platforms for mobile use, and truly, it has not failed them. For instance, a platform like Jackpot City offers a variety of games curated for mobile use, including slots, blackjack, poker, crash games, live dealer and others.
But now the big question remains. Why is mobile gambling becoming such a big thing? This article will help answer this question as well as reveal how fast this market is growing.
The size of this industry
A recent report by Statista showed that the global gambling market (inclusive of the sports betting market) in 2025 is estimated to reach US$449.69 billion in 2025. When it comes to mobile gambling, a similar report by GlobeNewswire shows that in 2023, the market was estimated to be at US$84.9 billion in 2023 and projected to reach US$173.1 billion by 2030 growing at a CAGR of 10.7% within the period.
With many places around the world continually legalizing gambling, the market has no choice but to go up. Additionally, the expansion of the market is positively affected by the rising number of sports leagues and events throughout the world. These leagues include the NFL, Premier League, NBA, NHL, MLB and many others.
But growth is external to the punters. Now, let’s unveil the reasons behind the dominance of mobile gambling when it comes to punters.
Accessibility and availability
As we have seen above, the number of smartphones is rapidly increasing, meaning that individuals can easily access whatever they need easily. With a phone in your pocket and internet connection in your vicinity, you have all the games you ever wished to play at your disposal.
The convenience that comes with mobile gambling can in no way be compared to using other online devices like desktops, Laptops and tablets. To start with, those other gadgets are quite bulky. Imagine always carrying your laptop whenever you are traveling. Just thinking about it is tiring enough. But with a mobile phone, you are not constrained.
For example, if you are going on vacation and are on a beach, or you are on a train in between business meetings, you can just whip out your phone and in a few clicks, you are spinning some wheels on Jackpot City or waiting for the plane not to fly off in the Aviator game. Everything has become so easy!
Payment integration
If there ever was one thing that ruins a good gaming experience, is having a hard time when paying. When it comes to providing a good user experience, ease of payment is a major factor. In fact, statistics show that more than 50% of customers abandon their carts when the checkout process takes longer than 30 seconds. Other statistics show that a good number of customers will easily refer people to use platforms that are properly integrated with payment methods.
When it comes to mobile platforms, there is a more seamless integration that occurs. In fact, more payment methods are curated for mobile integration as it simplifies the payment process and makes it even faster. Mobile gambling platforms like Jackpot City can support seamless transactions through mobile banking, digital wallets and even virtual currency.
Live betting and live streaming
Mobile platforms like Jackpot City have been optimized in such a way that users are able to place bets on games that are already in play. Live betting is among the most common practices among mobile sports bettors. Imagine being able to change your bets depending on how the match is going on. Additionally, operators provide live stats and updates that enhance the gaming experience. The push notification features alert users to vital developments, including:
- Match developments
- Upcoming games
- Odds shift
But again, why should you be able to bet on live games and not watch the games at the same time? Many gambling platforms already offer a provision of this by integrating their apps or websites with streaming services. Now, you can watch your game as you simultaneously place bets.
In addition to all this, the live betting experience is often gamified through leaderboards, rewards systems and challenges. Users are given points or bonuses for correctly predicting a series of happenings during a live match. This makes the experience feel more like a game than just traditional gambling.
Final take
Mobile gambling has become one of the biggest blessings of the gambling world. This is both for the operators and individual punters. The opportunities that come with mobile phones are countless, even as mobile technology continues to advance.
Also, the convenience offered by mobile gambling makes it very easy for punters to work around different games in gaming platforms whenever they feel like it. In short, you cannot beat the reasons that are making mobile gambling to be as popular as it is.