The online gambling market continues to expand rapidly, with a growing focus on specific “lucky” numbers among players, according to a new report by Mordor Intelligence released on January 2, 2026. The report estimates the global online gambling market at USD 101.45 billion for 2026, up from USD 91.63 billion in 2025, and projects growth to USD 168.71 billion by 2031 at a 10.72% CAGR.
Analysts say that the rising use of smartphones, the widespread rollout of 5G, and increasingly harmonized regulations across major jurisdictions are driving players to digital channels, where mobile interfaces emphasize numerical elements and increase attention to specific figures.
Game Type and Betting Preferences Influence Patterns
Casino games, both online and mobile, are inherently structured around numbers. Slot machines feature numbered paylines, bet values, and payout tables, while roulette outcomes depend entirely on numbered wheel positions. Table games such as blackjack and baccarat also revolve around fixed totals, further embedding numerical references into gameplay.
The Mordor report shows that sports betting led the online gambling market in 2025 with 52.05% share and is forecast to grow at an 11.75% CAGR through 2031. Live and in-play wagering represented 53.40% of activity in 2025 and is advancing at a 14.85% CAGR. These segments depend heavily on numerical data such as scores, odds, and real-time results, reinforcing players’ focus on specific numbers.
Slots remain the most played online casino game globally, with reported return-to-player (RTP) rates of up to 97% and themes designed to appeal to different demographics. In table games, players often revert to familiar number sequences rather than making purely random choices.
Across platforms, engagement metrics suggest thatWestern players continue to gravitate toward lucky numbers like 7 or 17, while East Asian players favor 6 and 8 due to longstanding associations with luck and prosperity. Personal milestones, such as birthdays or anniversaries, also influence number selection, creating recognizable clusters in platform analytics.
Game Popularity and Demographics Affect Numbers
The 2026 Mordor report also identifies demographic and cultural factors influencing number-focused behavior. Globally, users aged 25–34 accounted for 34.10% of the online gambling customer base in 2025, while users aged 18–24 are projected to post the fastest 11.98% CAGR through 2031. Younger players are particularly responsive to mobile-first platforms, where visual cues and repeated exposure to certain numbers reinforce perceived significance.
Geography significantly affects how numbers are perceived and used. Europe commanded 56.90% of online gambling revenue in 2025, while North America is projected to grow at a 15.40% CAGR through 2031. Regional trends show that operators tailor interfaces and promotions to reflect culturally significant numbers, with European players responding to popular lucky numbers, and North American users favoring sequences linked to traditional motifs or marketing campaigns.
Market analysts also point to regulatory and economic factors that shape how number-focused behavior manifests. In the UK, online casino profits rose roughly 15% in the most recent reporting period, putting revenues more than 55% above pre-pandemic levels.
Operators have increasingly used promotions, loyalty schemes, and seasonal campaigns, many of which emphasize milestones or specific numbers, creating a feedback loop where repetition enhances attention. These insights suggest that operators can indirectly influence engagement by highlighting certain numerical elements within promotions and in-game messaging.
Mobile Devices Drive Attention to Numbers
The shift toward mobile devices has become a defining factor in player behavior. According to Mordor, mobile and tablet devices captured 53.65% of revenue share in 2025 and are projected to post the fastest 13.65% CAGR through 2031. Mobile-optimized interfaces allow numbers to be prominently displayed, paired with interactive features like live odds and animated results, making them central to player attention
In Europe, mobile devices now account for nearly 80% of online casino engagement in some markets, reflecting operators’ investment in interface clarity and speed. High-contrast numerical displays, rapid feedback loops, and streamlined gameplay reinforce attention to specific numbers, creating clusters that are measurable but do not alter game outcomes. Analysts note that visually presented information is processed far faster than text, which explains why numbers dominate screens and shape player focus.
Studies by MedTech Intelligence also help support the fact that visually presented information is processed roughly 60,000 times faster than text. This reinforces why numbers dominate mobile casino interfaces and why clusters of attention are consistently observed across sessions.
Many Casino Games embrace use of numbers
From demographic preferences to mobile-first interface design and culturally significant selections, players increasingly cluster around specific figures. For operators, these insights offer an opportunity to optimize engagement strategies, enhance the user experience, and maintain growth in a market projected to reach USD 168.71 billion by 2031.
While “lucky numbers” may not influence winnings, they have emerged as a measurable indicator of behavior, offering actionable insights into player habits and the effectiveness of platform design.
