Skill Gaming Market Report 2026

The skill gaming market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $50.96 billion in 2025 to $58.96 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of online gaming platforms, increasing smartphone penetration, rising popularity of competitive gaming, expansion of digital payment infrastructure, wider acceptance of online entertainment.

The skill gaming market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $104.46 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing regulatory clarity for skill gaming, rising demand for competitive social gaming, expansion of esports monetization models, growing use of AI-based matchmaking systems, increasing adoption of immersive gaming formats. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of real-money skill-based games, rising popularity of esports tournaments, growing integration of secure digital payment systems, expansion of cross-platform skill gaming ecosystems, enhanced focus on fair play and anti-fraud mechanisms.

The rising penetration of smartphones is expected to drive the growth of the skill gaming market. Smartphone penetration refers to the proportion of the population that owns and regularly uses smartphones, highlighting the widespread adoption of mobile technology in everyday life. This growth is largely attributed to the increasing affordability and accessibility of smartphones, making them available to a broader audience. Greater smartphone usage supports the expansion of skill gaming by enabling easy access to games anytime and anywhere, catering to both casual and competitive players. It boosts user engagement by allowing seamless, on-the-go gameplay, enhancing convenience and participation in skill-based competitions. For example, in October 2023, the GSM Association reported that nearly 4.3 billion people, about 53% of the global population, were using smartphones to access the internet. Additionally, around 80% of mobile internet users were using 4G or 5G smartphones, an increase of 330 million users from 2022. This growing smartphone adoption is a key factor driving the skill gaming market forward.

Leading companies in the skill gaming market are focusing on innovative solutions like peer-to-peer, player-adjusted payout systems to boost player engagement and deliver more personalized, competitive gaming experiences. These systems allow players to compete directly with one another, with payouts dynamically determined by player performance and strategic choices rather than fixed amounts. For example, in June 2024, Full Pull Entertainment LLC, a U.S.-based digital media and sports technology company, launched Full Pull Picks, a skill-based gaming platform that offers real-money wagering on truck and tractor pulling events. The platform features a peer-to-peer, player-adjusted payout system, where entry fees are pooled and prizes are distributed based on the total distances pulled by chosen drivers. This approach creates a more interactive and fair wagering environment, allowing users to legally participate in skill-based betting by selecting drivers with varying odds and earning rewards based on actual event outcomes.

In December 2024, Mobile Premier League (MPL), an online gaming company based in India, acquired CloudFeather Games Private Limited for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is intended to enhance MPL’s technological capabilities by incorporating CloudFeather’s advanced gaming infrastructure. CloudFeather Games, also based in India, specializes in technology solutions for skill gaming, real-money gaming, and Web3 development tools for game creators.

Major companies operating in the skill gaming market are FanDuel Group Inc., Flutter Entertainment plc, Zynga Inc., Skillz Inc., Nazara Technologies Limited., Delta Corp Limited., Junglee Games Pvt. Ltd., Games24x7 Private Limited., Dream Sports Pvt. Ltd., AviaGames Inc., GameDuell GmbH, WorldWinner, GamesKraft Technologies Private Limited, PlayerzPot Media Private Limited., OnMobile Global Limited., WinZO Games Private Limited., EazeGames IE B.V., Megashots Internet Private Limited, Pokerbaazi, Mobile Premier League.

North America was the largest region in the skill gaming market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the skill gaming market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the skill gaming market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The skill gaming market includes revenues earned by entities through online poker and card games, puzzle and trivia competitions, eSports betting and contests, and educational skill challenge apps. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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