due to the lack of major events, the growth of rates by the end of 2023 will decrease to 10%

Due to the lack of major sporting events, the growth of bets at bookmakers in 2023 may slow down to 10%. At the end of 2022, the turnover of rates increased by 20%, deposits – by 22.1%. The total amount of bets placed in Russia reached 2.9 trillion rubles. Market participants cite the exclusion of Russian players and teams from participation in international competitions as one of the reasons for the slowdown in growth. The segment will be helped by the redistribution of customers from the services of illegal offices and the growth of the youth audience.

At the end of 2023, the total volume of betting growth in bookmakers, according to the forecast of the information and analytical portal “Rating of bookmakers”, will decrease and amount to 10%. Analysts attribute the trend to the lack of major events that could “grow the industry.” However, they believe that the base of new players will be replenished by young people who, after reaching the age of 18, can start betting on sports.

In 2022, the turnover of the legal sector of the betting market increased by 20%, to 2.3 billion rubles, and the volume of deposits for the year increased by 22.1%, to 884.5 billion rubles. Since 2019, the total volume of rates in Russia has increased by 1.4 times and reached 2.91 trillion rubles by the end of 2022, the study says. The average rate increased by 5.6% to 1.3 thousand rubles.

The Bookmaker Rating notes that the total number of bettors last year exceeded 15 million people, but the number of active players among them decreased by 1%, to 6.58 million people: “An increasing number of players perceive bets as entertainment, as well as the opportunity to earn just a few times. The general perception of betting as a potential source of income is weakening over time.”

Football remains the most popular sport for betting among players, according to the Bookmakers Rating data, it ranks first, the top 5 also includes hockey, basketball, e-sports and tennis.

Esports was only in the second top five in terms of betting turnover. Earlier, betting companies reported that the volume of bets in this segment in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 25% year-on-year, and the offices themselves began to organize tournaments under their own brands and create teams (see Kommersant dated April 12).

Fonbet says that the largest global events are still generating the greatest interest among customers, in 2022 it was the World Cup in Qatar: “It has become a growth driver for the industry.” In 2023, international events of this magnitude are not expected, and the final part of the European Football Championship will be held only in 2024, the company said.

Also, according to Fonbet, the reduction in the volume of bets is affected by the removal of Russian teams and athletes from competitions: “Russians are watching the participation of their teams in qualifying matches, in the Champions League, the Europa League, and so on more closely.” For bookmakers this year, the Champions League and other competitions under the auspices of UEFA will be traditionally important, the office added.

The top 5 sports in BetBoom by the number of bets in 2022 included football, tennis, hockey, basketball, table tennis, said Petr Kipa, marketing director of the company: “Football has strengthened its leading position, including due to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.” Market dynamics in the middle of the year is difficult to predict, it can be influenced by many external factors, he added.

Kommersant’s source on the market believes that the business of legal bookmakers can “partly grow due to the redistribution of customers of the 1xBet office blocked in Russia.” Since 2014, he explains, the company has been trying to keep the audience through copies of its service, but every year this becomes more difficult due to increasing blocking.

Vadim Krasnikov