Hedge Your Bets: Online vs. Offline Gambling in 2025 – The MAJUBAJI Perspective
Friends or foes? The relationship between online and offline casinos and sportsbooks has always been complex — and 2025 is proving to be no different.
Traditionally, land-based casinos feared losing players to web-based platforms. But recent years have revealed a surprising truth: online and offline gambling can work together. Rather than battling for dominance, the industry is moving towards integration and convergence — a strategic blend of both worlds.
If you’re curious about how the gambling landscape is evolving in Bangladesh and beyond, read on.
Paradise Lost: The Decline of Offline Gambling
From the luxurious lights of Las Vegas and Monaco to the powerhouse of global gambling — Macau — offline casinos once ruled the world.
In 2019, Macau generated an astonishing MOP 292.46 billion (approx. USD 36.45 billion) in gross gaming revenue (GGR), dwarfing Las Vegas’s USD 6.58 billion and Monte Carlo’s EUR 239.8 million.
But then the world changed. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to lockdowns, border closures, and travel bans. Land-based casinos were hit hard.
- Macau: GGR fell by 80% to MOP 60.44 billion.
- Las Vegas: GGR dropped 43.3% to USD 3.73 billion.
- Monte Carlo: Down by 48%.
Rising Resilience: Online Casinos Step Up
In contrast, online gambling showed strength and flexibility. According to the European Gaming and Betting Association, total European gambling revenue fell from EUR 98.6 billion in 2019 to EUR 75.9 billion in 2020, mostly due to offline closures.
But while land-based casinos collapsed, online revenue grew by 7%.
Take Italy, for instance:
- Online casino GGR rose 50.8% in May 2020 and 80.6% in December 2020.
- Online sportsbooks, on the other hand, saw dramatic declines of 73.6% and 18.37%, respectively.
This shows that even online betting can be affected — especially when dependent on real-life sporting events. Yet online casinos, poker, and games thrived, becoming the most resilient segment in the industry.
Online Sportsbooks: Ready for the Spotlight
The early pandemic days boosted online casino traffic. Many bettors, unable to wager on sports, tried slots, poker, and live games.
In the UK:
- 2.2% of gamblers joined online platforms during lockdown.
- 17% of sports bettors shifted temporarily to online casinos.
Eventually, as sports resumed and lockdowns continued, online sportsbooks also soared. In Italy, December 2020’s betting GGR hit EUR 177.1 million, an 85.9% jump from pre-pandemic highs.
Are Land-Based Casinos Making a Comeback?
In 2021, as restrictions eased:
- Nevada saw a record USD 1.23 billion in GGR (May).
- Macau recorded MOP 10.44 billion, its best month in a year.
Was this the offline comeback? Not quite.
This surge reflected pent-up demand — players eager to return after a year away. But will this level of enthusiasm last?
Online players in Bangladesh and elsewhere have now experienced the convenience of digital platforms. Once the novelty of offline play fades, many are expected to return online — especially younger demographics who prefer mobile gaming.
Offline gambling remains vulnerable to:
- Travel bans
- New regulations
- Economic instability
In contrast, online platforms are accessible, flexible, and future-proof.
What This Means for the Future
We’re likely entering a phase of fluctuation — online and offline gambling will alternate in dominance depending on external factors. However, the longer the digital experience lasts, the more players will stick to online platforms, lowering churn rates and building lasting habits.
For the Bangladesh market, this shift is especially significant, as more players are seeking localised, mobile-friendly gaming platforms that offer trusted payouts, fast onboarding, and bonuses.
Why MAJUBAJI is Leading the Way in Bangladesh
With online gambling demand skyrocketing, MAJUBAJI is here to help operators and entrepreneurs enter the digital space easily and profitably.
Whether you're launching a real money casino or a sports betting site, MAJUBAJI provides:
- Scalable casino infrastructure
- Seamless mobile support
- Fast integration of payment gateways
- Multi-language support including Bangla
- Professional customer service and affiliate tools
Don't get left behind — join the next generation of iGaming and bring your casino business online with MAJUBAJI in 2025.
Ready to Start an Online Casino in Bangladesh?
MAJUBAJI empowers you to build and launch a powerful gambling platform in record time — whether you're transitioning from an offline business or launching your first venture.
Get in touch with the MAJUBAJI team today to:
- Learn about our online casino solutions
- Get access to sportsbook integration
- Explore affiliate systems, loyalty tools, and more
📣 Hashtags for Social Sharing:
#Majubaji #OnlineCasinoBangladesh #iGaming2025 #SportsbookPlatform #GamblingTrends2025 #CasinoBD #OnlineVsOfflineGaming #BangladeshBetting #MajubajiGaming #DigitalCasinoShift #PlaySmartBD #FutureOfiGaming #CasinoBusinessBD #OnlineCasinoStartup
