Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the Middle East’s most important digital entertainment markets. Intriguingly, betting is part of the new landscape.
Searches and engagement around Saudi Arabia online casinos reflect a growing demand that is developing alongside the country’s wider digital entertainment boom.
Operators of these platforms are licensed in other jurisdictions, which presents the Saudi Arabian government with an economical conundrum.
Online Gambling Interest Has Increased Dramatically
The Blask Index measures how much attention people in a particular country give to gambling brands.
It indicates how much attention online casino and betting platforms are receiving, and the latest figures point to a noticeable increase in interest amongst Saudi Arabians.
The figures show a notable jump in gambling interest across Saudi Arabia at the end of 2025, rising from around 484,900 in October to 889,200 in November and then to 1.37 million in December.
That shows interest in gambling more than doubled between October and December, before dropping earlier this year to about 597,500 by March.
However, it was still around 79.4 percent higher than the previous year. The huge December spike did not last, but overall interest was still stronger than it had been previously.
A temporary spike can sometimes be linked to a particular event, marketing campaign or change in consumer behaviour.
However sustained year-on-year growth suggests that a larger audience is becoming aware of these platforms and looking for ways to access them.
The figures also indicate which operators are attracting the most attention. According to the data, 1xBet recorded the highest annual player spend at 165,580, followed by GrandPashaBet at 154,240 and Baji at 104,220.
These three brands accounted for almost 39% of total brand awareness among Saudi users and were associated with estimated combined betting volumes exceeding $480 million.
Saudi Arabia Is Building a Gaming Powerhouse
The rise in gambling interest in Saudi Arabia is happening against the backdrop of something much larger.
The country is trying to become one of the world’s leading forces in gaming and eSports, and it is putting significant money and resources behind that goal.
The Kingdom’s official policy has been very clear about where it wants this industry to go.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in video games, eSports, digital entertainment and related technology as part of its effort to diversify the economy beyond oil.
The National Gaming and eSports Strategy has set ambitious targets for the country to become a global gaming hub by 2030.
The government wants the sector to create more than 39,000 jobs, contribute roughly SAR 50 billion to the economy and help produce more than 30 internationally successful games.
A major part of this push comes from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The PIF has invested in game developers through Savvy Games Group, and their $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely was one of the most significant moves.
The Kingdom’s ambitions have become even more obvious through its involvement with Electronic Arts.
A consortium led by the PIF recently completed its $55bn acquisition of the company behind major franchises including EA Sports FC, Battlefield and The Sims.
It’s one of the biggest transactions in the history of the video game industry and emphasises Saudi Arabia’s determination to become a major force in global gaming.
Growing Demand Does Not Mean Regulation Is Coming
The fact that the data points to a growing interest in gambling doesn’t mean that Saudi Arabia is any closer to changing their policy.
Saudi Arabia still prohibits gambling, and there is currently no official system for licensing online casinos or betting websites.
The government is concentrating on investing in video games, eSports, technology and digital entertainment as part of its broader economic transformation.
The Blask figures show a gap between official policy and some aspects of customer behaviour.
While the government is investing billions of dollars into gaming and eSports, some internet users are simultaneously showing interest in offshore gambling platforms.
This is possible because the internet gives people access to international platforms even when those services are not available domestically.
While the figures suggest some demand for online gambling, they don’t indicate that the government intends to respond by changing its laws.
The fall in the Blask Index after its December 2025 peak is another reason to be cautious, as it could mean that some of the increased interest was temporary.
However, the reported 79.4% year-on-year increase suggests that the underlying audience is still larger than it was previously.
The bigger picture is that Saudi Arabia’s approach to gaming is clearly long-term. PwC has estimated that the country’s gaming and eSports sector could contribute around $13.3 billion to the economy by 2030.
