How Gen Z Gamblers Change Betting Markets Forever

The Zoomers have entered the casino and they’re starting to make their mark. Digital native, social, mobile first. They gamble more than their predecessors but tend to be strategic when they do. The surge in esports betting announced their arrival. Now a clear demographic profile is emerging.

Gen Z gamblers are methodical, cynical, ethics-aware, and demanding. When they win, they want instant payout – in the cryptocurrency of their choosing. They grew up playing video games and expect the same array of choice, but if the experience isn’t immersive and instantly rewarding, they’ll log off. There’s always another iGaming app, and another one after that, and another one after that.

Zoomers are gambling’s future. How will their preferences, choices, and attitudes change it?

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Profiling the Zoomer Bettor
3. Gen Z Does Gambling Different
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Profiling the Zoomer Bettor
3. Gen Z Does Gambling Different
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Profiling the Zoomer Bettor

Imagine a casino where the most prolific players have never spun a roulette wheel. For Gen Z, old-school games lose their appeal quickly – unless they’re crypto-friendly, re-imagined for touchscreens, fully social, multiplayer, and lag-free.

The 18-34 crowd is more likely to use a sportsbook app on their smartphone and wager on their favourite team in a match of League of Legends. When they do use an iGaming app they swipe straight past the established options to find a new mine or crash game.

A 2024 report by specialist gambling consultancy Eilers & Krejcik notes that Gen Z gamblers are “growing up in a gambling 3.0 world, where crossover between streaming sites, video games, mobile games and crypto gambling sites is increasingly common.”

How that translates into behaviors and new gaming formats is the big question gambling leaders are trying to answer.

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In an interview with the Token Word industry newsletter, Nigel Eccles, founder of FanDuel and co-founder of crypto-based betting firm BetHog, said traditional games like slots are “not the Gen Z audience’s thing.”

BetHog is responding by building games of its own, he added, which blend gamification with social interaction. “That’s the opportunity,” Eccles said.

Gen Z Does Gambling Different

How do Zoomers differ from their predecessors? In 2025, here’s what you need to know:

They’re Social Gamblers

A survey by Whistle Wise found that 53% of Gen Z bettors participate in gambling with friends or family, versus just 34% of Millennials. Flip the question around, and only 40% of Gen Z bettors said they sometimes bet alone compared to 55% of Millennials.

In-person or online, Gen Z sees gambling as something to be done with peers. Sharing experiences gives them more value.

That’s why they’re drawn to social betting, multiplayer games, and live-streamed casino games where they can bluff and interact with others. A sense of community is achieved with in-game group chat and seamless options for sharing experiences on social media.

They’re Very Crypto Friendly

Gen Z is the most enthusiastic adopter segment for cryptocurrencies, accounting for nearly 60% of crypto users. Figures from Blockonomi show crypto transactions now account for more than 30% of global betting handle –?up from 20% in 2022 – and over 40% of crypto bets are placed by Gen Z players.

Crucially for marketers, data from SOFTSWISS suggest crypto bets tend to be double the value of bets made in fiat currencies. Cryptocurrencies also lend themselves to new loyalty program formats, blockchain-based rewards using NFTs, and exclusive games and content.

They Treat Betting Like Investing

‘Cooler heads prevail’ is the attitude that characterizes Gen Z’s approach to betting. Eschewing the thrill of pure risk-taking, they tend to treat gambling like investing. In an echo of when fast broadband connections opened up forex markets to retail traders, Gen Z bettors have loads of trend data, analysis, and commentary at their disposal. They can work out implied odds and enter into bets with a plan to come out on top.

Whistle Wise found that 70% of Zoomers wager with a clear strategy in mind – almost 20% more than the 52% of Millennials who said the same.

They’re also more comfortable calling their bets a form of entrepreneurship. A full 70% said they look at sports gambling in particular as a kind of entrepreneurship; another echo of currency trading where the portfolio ‘is’ the business.

They’re Not Passive Observers

Whether sports betting or casino games, Gen Z isn’t content with ‘have a go and hope’ games like slot machines or roulette. They prefer games that require skill and strategy, where their actions can directly influence the outcome.

For that reason, esports betting, fantasy sports, and mine and crash games are popular with Gen Z gamblers. They require more direct involvement from players than luck of the draw in cards and traditional games of chance.

The desire for connection also manifests in a preference for immersive digital experiences. New Web3 gaming formats like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can offer 3D casino environments and more lifelike player avatars, as well as video, music, art, and more rounded social interaction than voice and text.

They’re Responsible

Zoomers display a higher degree of awareness about the potential negatives of gambling than preceding generations. A recent blog by the Association of Certified Gaming Compliance Specialists (ACGCS) notes that they “value authenticity and transparency in the brands they support, favoring companies that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and ethical business practices.”

They understand the value of mental health and worry about gambling addiction, making them more likely to support the use of responsible gambling tools like daily limits, time tracking, and self-exclusion tools.

Despite self-identifying more readily as ‘gamblers,’ Gen Z tend to bet in moderation, making smaller individual bets than Millenials.

The Bottom Line

High frequency, high value, and highly likely to out themselves as ‘gamblers,’ Zoomers are displaying all the signs of a highly sought-after demographic-to-be. As age and income brackets mature, will Gen Z be the generational bullpen for a wave of igaming high rollers? Brands that win their affections now could see extended long-term rewards.

Caveat that by noting how many industries have discovered that ‘loyalty’ and ‘digital-native’ are mutually exclusive terms. Perhaps just keeping up with Zoomers’ changing preferences and shifting attention spans is enough to play for.

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