How the Casino Industry Impacts Wales’ Digital Economy

It is no secret that the online casino industry is booming at the moment.

00:44 05 July 2025

It is no secret that the online casino industry is booming at the moment. It is so popular to a point where governments are using the online gambling industry as an economic measure that can impact the overall GDP of a country.

If you ever wondered what Cardiff city center on a Saturday night, you’ll know that there is no shortage of nightlife. There are plenty of pubs, gigs, and even a casino or two. But what might surprise you is just how digitally active the casino industry in Wales has become.

Wales is playing a significant role in the UK’s booming digital economy, and the casino industry is leading the pack.

Wales at the Forefront

First of all, Wales is becoming a big player in the iGaming industry, and the numbers speak for themselves. Wales’s creative and digital sectors generated over £1.5 billion in 2023, although this includes many other sectors apart from online casinos.

The video game and digital segment alone is contributing more than £300 million every year, with a growth rate of around 12%.

What does this mean? Well, it means that Wales is a fertile ground for tech, including iGaming.

This is great news for casino businesses, just because we are talking about an industry that is hungry and that still hasn’t explored its full potential. Wales has the right setting allowing casino companies to prosper and to innovate, and it has the manpower and brainpower to make it all possible.

But let’s focus more on online casinos. How are they performing in Wales?

Online Casinos in Wales

Online casinos aren’t just places where people can play some games and entertain themselves, but an entire ecosystem of web developers, game designers, customer service teams, payment processing technology, compliance officers, server infrastructure, and the list goes on and on.

But what does this mean? Well, it means that the impact of the online casino industry is much deeper than most people think. It affects cash flow, job creation, and many other supportive industries. On top of that, it is one of the most effective ways to bring foreign money into a country.

So, online casinos have a huge economic impact not just on Wales, but on many other countries that are pro-gambling.

Wales is helping build that infrastructure.

How? Well, first of all, we have tech talent, and Welsh universities are pumping out grads in computer science, data science, and AI. Their educational system is designed to future-proof generations, which is what the online gambling industry needs.

Plus, Wales has a very business-friendly environment, where companies usually enjoy lower operating costs compared to other places like London, making it very appealing for startups and midsize iGaming companies.

Lastly, the thing that most people don’t take into account is the remote-first culture in Wales that helps iGaming businesses thrive.

So, in addition to job creation, online gambling has become a substantial revenue stream for the Welsh government. You have licensing fees, corporate taxes, and contributions from regulated operators have provided the much-needed economic boost.

A UK-wide statistics show that the online gambling market generated a revenue of around £7.3 billion in 2024, and it is projected to go more than double that amount by 2030.

Taxes and Local Spend

Then there’s tax. Which is quite an important subject for every country, right? Some might argue that the gambling tax flows into the central UK vault, which may be true, but Welsh-based businesses still pay local business rates, and their employees pay Welsh income tax.

It might not be a big chunk of the revenue, but still, there are millions of pounds that are flowing into NHS Wales, education, and infrastructure.

How much is it really? Well, the 2022-23 gambling sector in the UK generated 3.3 billion in tax revenue, which is a lot of money. 

Yes, only a small portion of this revenue goes to Wales, but every rented office, local contractor, or advertised job sends ripples through the economy. On top of that, licensing fees in Wales add another layer of fiscal support at a regional level.

Regulation & Responsibility

As the UK tightens gambling regulations, especially around affordability checks and online stake limits, there has been growing chatter about non GamStop betting platforms. These are betting sites that aren’t registered with the UK’s self-exclusion scheme (GamStop) and often operate offshore.

While they offer more freedom for some players, they also raise serious concerns about player protection and whether the oversight is legitimate.

That’s where Wales’ contribution to ethical and compliant digital gaming becomes so important. Unlike many of these offshore operators, platforms based or supported in Wales are closely aligned with UK standards, emphasizing responsible gaming, data security, and fair play.

Wales might not be Las Vegas, but it is quietly cashing in on the digital economy, and the casino industry is one of its key players. So, the online gambling industry has a serious financial impact on Wales’ economy, and it is showing no signs of slowing down.