The European online gambling sector operates on a massive scale, frequently measuring its success in billions of euros in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). Yet, the extensive human infrastructure powering these financial metrics rarely receives the same spotlight. According to an in-depth report published by European Gaming, the combined group headcount of three of Europe’s largest publicly traded gaming organizations - Evolution, Playtech, and Betsson - exceeds 32,700 employees. However, a closer look at the data reveals that the geography of hiring and the nature of employment in iGaming are heavily concentrated in a few specific regional hubs.
The Workforce Structure of Industry Giants
Corporate public disclosures highlight fundamental structural differences among the top employers. These variations are primarily driven by their core business models, ranging from live dealer streaming services to comprehensive B2B software engineering.
Company | Total Headcount | FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) | Primary Locations | Reporting Date |
Evolution AB | 22,475 | 16,243 | Riga, Tbilisi, Fort Mrieħel | Dec 31, 2025 |
Playtech plc | 7,400 | No public data | Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria | Dec 31, 2025 |
Betsson AB | 2,899 | No public data | Malta (53% of workforce), Stockholm | Dec 31, 2025 |
Evolution AB: The Dominance of Live Studio Operations
Swedish powerhouse Evolution stands as the undisputed titan of iGaming employment. Out of its 22,475 employees, the full-time equivalent (FTE) metric rests at 16,243. This substantial 6,232-worker gap between total headcount and FTE is virtually unheard of in standard tech sectors but perfectly illustrates the live casino business model. Approximately 88% of Evolution’s personnel serve as game hosts, dealers, and floor managers working in 24/7 shift rotations. Consequently, the physical number of staff required vastly outstrips standard 40-hour roles. The overwhelming majority of these employees are stationed far from the company's Swedish base (which employs an average of just 198 people), concentrated heavily in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
Playtech plc: A Decentralized Engineering Powerhouse
Operating as a leading B2B provider of gaming systems, software, and content, Playtech functions much like a traditional multinational IT firm. With a workforce of 7,400 spread across 20 countries, the company maintains its global headquarters on the Isle of Man. However, its software development, technical operations, and R&D heartlands are historically anchored in Eastern Europe - specifically Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Notably, the company does not break down its headcount by city within these countries, so the exact weight of individual offices, including Kyiv, cannot be verified from public disclosures. While Playtech also manages 17 live studios globally, its structural focus remains heavily skewed toward software engineering rather than massive studio floor operations.
Betsson AB: Strategic Operational Concentration
Betsson, one of the most established Swedish operators, reported a workforce of 2,899 employees. Despite maintaining local offices in 20 countries and boasting over 70 nationalities within its ranks, the operator demonstrates a highly centralized operational strategy. In 2025, 1,484 workers - accounting for roughly 53% of its entire average workforce - were physically based in Malta. This footprint exemplifies the classic B2C iGaming operator model: centralizing marketing, legal, compliance, and customer support resources in a jurisdiction that offers an optimal licensing and regulatory ecosystem.
Primary Geographic Hubs of iGaming Employment
The European iGaming labor market is not evenly dispersed. Corporations strategically cluster around favorable regulatory environments and cost-effective tech zones, creating distinct industry capitals across the continent.
Malta: The Epicenter of European iGaming
Malta undeniably remains the premier hub for online gambling professionals. According to statistics from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the island supports an estimated 13,929 FTEs attached to licensed operators, with 302 companies holding MGA licenses. Of this total, 9,771 individuals are directly employed in operational activities strictly covered by MGA gaming licenses. For the small Mediterranean nation, iGaming is a cornerstone of the economy, and massive employers like Betsson represent just one segment of a much larger, interconnected ecosystem of operators, affiliates, and service providers.
Riga and Tbilisi: The Live Casino Foundries
The capital cities of Latvia and Georgia have evolved into essential production hubs, almost entirely driven by Evolution's expansion. Tbilisi currently operates as Evolution’s largest single studio facility worldwide. Nationally, Georgia accounted for 4,813 Evolution employees in 2025 - the company does not break down its figures by city. Riga serves a dual purpose: not only does it house massive broadcast studios, but it also functions as the central hub for game development, rigorous testing, and the rollout of new titles - Latvia’s national headcount stood at 3,365 employees for the same period. Together, Georgia and Latvia host over 8,000 Evolution employees, cementing the Baltics and the Caucasus as the primary engine room for the global live dealer segment.
Gibraltar: A Historic Hub Facing Headwinds
For decades, Gibraltar was the undisputed haven for UK-facing and European operators. However, employment data from 2025–2026 highlights a sustained contraction. The number of jobs in the local gambling and betting sector fell from 3,781 in October 2023 to 3,536 in 2024, followed by a further 2.2% drop to roughly 3,458 jobs in late 2025. The primary catalyst for this exodus was the UK government's unprecedented hike of the Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40% in April 2026. This aggressive tax adjustment heavily impacted operator margins, forcing companies to restructure their Gibraltar operations. Today, the sector employs around 3,400 people, with roughly two-thirds operating as cross-border workers commuting daily from Spain.
Tallinn: Restructuring the Tech Cluster
Estonia has historically provided iGaming firms with highly educated engineering talent at competitive operational costs compared to Western Europe. Yet, the Tallinn tech cluster is currently navigating significant volatility. YOLO Group recently announced the elimination of 280 jobs in Estonia following its withdrawal from unregulated markets. The restructuring deepened when Bombay Group (a YOLO-owned operator) filed redundancy plans affecting up to 410 employees. This downturn has echoed across other local entities, with Games Global Estonia OÜ reporting a headcount reduction from 127 to 89 within a short timeframe, highlighting the fragile nature of emerging tech hubs.
The Hidden Workforce: What the Data Misses
Public corporate disclosures only reveal the tip of the iceberg regarding industry employment. The actual number of professionals working within the iGaming ecosystem is significantly larger due to complex corporate structuring.
Firstly, official headcounts routinely exclude freelancers, independent contractors, and full-time consultants. Betsson, for example, utilizes 232 full-time consultants - primarily dedicated to product development - who are completely omitted from the main employee tally. Secondly, thousands of jobs are hidden within the B2B outsourcing sector, including third-party customer support agencies, specialized marketing firms, and vast affiliate networks that depend entirely on operator budgets. Finally, the industry’s largest privately held behemoths, such as bet365, Pragmatic Play, and Soft2Bet, are not subjected to the same reporting requirements as public companies. Their refusal to publish consolidated group-level workforce figures leaves a massive portion of the European labor market entirely undocumented.
Furthermore, the narrative that iGaming is a fully remote industry is largely debunked by the data. Because live casino operations dominate the headcount figures, the majority of the industry's workforce is strictly tied to physical studio locations. Remote and hybrid working models remain a luxury largely reserved for senior management, software developers, and specialized digital marketing teams.
You can find more articles on the iGaming market and industry in our iGaming Industry section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
