Green Tech and Adequate Energy Use Are the Future of iGaming

Online casino entertainment has long been associated with high adaptability, massive servers, and 24/7 data centre operation. Behind this comfort stand high power usage, pressure on infrastructure, and an increase in the carbon footprint.

To lessen their negative impact on the environment, providers are often implementing ESG initiatives. Such practices are becoming part of entrepreneurs’ long-term strategies, impacting the profitability of gambling platforms and their attractiveness to investors.

Rosloto experts discuss the green agenda in the online casino niche. You will learn about the steps that are taken to make the industry greener.

The Impact of the iGaming Sector on the Environment

According to Gitnux Market Data:

• 1% of the world’s electricity use is accounted for by information centres serving entertainment and streaming portals;
• the gambling industry generates 0.5% of the global carbon footprint.

These figures are not yet comparable to the emissions of such powerhouses as mining, air travel, or metallurgy. However, they are already significant enough to attract public attention.

At the end-user level, the environmental impact is also much felt. For example, the average gaming PC consumes 300–600 watts, while a server that supports live entertainment or betting content consumes several times more.

Ecological Footprint in Online Gambling

Let us consider the sources of impact on the global environment and methods of minimising them.

Data Centres and Server Clusters

This is the foundation of any infrastructure in charge for the smooth operation of online casinos, betting sites, and live streaming platforms. These facilities work 24/7, supporting millions of entertainment sessions and real-time transactions.

According to the Uptime Institute, 40% of data centre capacity is spent on cooling the equipment. Therefore, even with the implementation of advanced technologies like those based on the outside air, the costs of information clusters remain enormous.

A single facility of this kind consumes 100–200 MW of energy per year. Major operators (Bet365, Flutter, DraftKings, and Evolution) use dozens of server locations all over the world.

Transitioning to “green” data centres is a key method of reducing consumption. They are powered by solar, wind, and hydroelectric power plants.

By 2030, many leading companies plan to achieve a zero-carbon footprint for their processing servers. Playtech, Kindred Group, and other market participants have also said about it.

Streaming Platforms

According to the Cisco Annual Internet Report, 80% of global Internet traffic is video. Game streaming and live broadcasts account for a growing share of this volume. One hour of 4K transmission consumes 7 GB of data, which, when scaled to millions of users, turns into hundreds of petabytes of compartmentalised information.

To reduce the load, providers implement the following elements:

• dynamic stream adaptation (switch between 720p, 1080p, and 4K resolution depending on the connection speed);
• edge computing, where some of the calculations are performed closer to the player;
• efficient audio codecs (for example, AV1), which reduce the bitrate without losing image quality.

Game Client

According to a study by Fraunhofer IZM, the average casino visitor consumes 50–60 kW of energy per month — almost as much as a washing machine over the same period.

The longer and more frequently a customer is online, the higher the overall carbon footprint of the gambling ecosystem.

Developers strive to reduce resource consumption without compromising the quality of the UX or user experience.

Effective optimisation methods include:

• implementation of modern shaders (programs for video processing);
• frame-rate control (FPS) in live dealer content;
• improved transmitted data compression.

Physical Infrastructure

iGaming platforms cannot operate without:

• offices;
• support centres;
• live dealer studios;
• land-based casinos.

All of these facilities require constant lighting, heating, ventilation, and AC. It significantly contributes to the companies' total energy consumption.

For example, Evolution and Pragmatic Play live studios use dozens of video cameras, screens, lighting devices, and network equipment. Consequently, they consume megawatts of electricity daily.

In 2025, many companies were planning to open “smart offices”. These spaces are equipped with LEDs, automatic temperature, energy control systems, and solar panels.

It is possible to offset emissions of land-based locations with the help of carbon credits and tree planting.

Equipment and E-Waste

According to the UN, more than 50 million tons of it are generated worldwide annually, but only 17% of this is recycled properly. The IT sector, including the iGaming segment, makes a significant contribution to this indicator.

One of the trends in recent years is the implementation of Hardware Recycling programs. Their essence lies in returning old equipment to manufacturers, reusing components, and recycling rare earth metals.

The modular server market is also actively developing. The replacement of just a few individual blocks in a cluster can reduce e-waste by 20–30%.

Energy Profile of Gaming Brands

This is the set of all processes that consume energy and generate a carbon footprint. The technical document shows how electricity, heat, and resources go out as part of the provider's work.

Basic profile details are:

1. Power consumption (kWh). The capacity required to manage servers, GPU clusters, data storage systems, and network equipment.
2. Cooling and ventilation. Costs borne by the enterprise to maintain a stable temperature and humidity in server rooms, backup systems, and heat recovery units.
3. The use of green energy. The share of electricity supplied from renewable sources.
4. CO2 emissions. There are direct emissions of companies (Scope 1), indirect pollution (Scope 2), and hidden contamination (Scope 3).
5. Electronic waste. The amount of equipment that must be replaced, recycled, or disposed of.

Leading gambling brands such as Kindred Group, Entain, Playtech, and Bet365 are now openly sharing their data.

The public placement of details is an excellent image step. Partners, investors, and players see that the firm cares about environmental issues and is taking real actions to reduce its impact on the ecology.

The availability of confirmed information helps entrepreneurs comply with the following regulatory requirements:

1. In the EU and the UK, vendors with a certain total income are required to notify of CO2 emissions, power usage, and sustainable initiatives.
2. In the US, similar requirements are being discussed at the state level, particularly for enterprises with proprietary data centres.

Companies that have energy indicators and systematically monitor them can reduce bills by 10–25%. They switch to efficient solutions and optimise the server’s work during peak hours.

Green Render in the iGaming Niche

This is another approach that has been actively used in the entertainment industry in recent years. Its essence lies in the reduction of the load on processors and video cards (CPUs and GPUs) without degrading image quality and stability of sessions.

A green render helps make visuals less energy-intensive. The convenience and dynamism of the gameplay are fully preserved, which is especially important for live casinos, eSports betting sites, and streaming platforms.

Key optimisation technologies:

1. Dynamic adjustment of the graphics quality. The system automatically makes images less clear when the user is idle, viewing the results of rounds, or viewing menus. This saves resources without worsening the visual experience.
2. Hardware acceleration. Modern GPU programs and specialised video chips can independently process content. The application of such solutions relieves the CPU and reduces power consumption.
3. Network load optimisation. CDN servers distribute products closer to customers, allowing Internet traffic to go on a shorter route. This makes delays and data retransmissions rarer.
4. Coding streams. The transition to modern video broadcast formats and adaptive bitrates also helps cut down consumption indicators.
5. Power-saving server modes. When the activity of gamblers decreases (for example, at night), the equipment can enter a partial sleep state. During this time, the fan speed is reduced, and the cooling systems operate in economy mode.
6. Infrastructure upgrade. Top companies are already implementing AI systems. These programs manage equipment temperature and load in real time, significantly decreasing consumption and emissions.

A green render helps reduce energy expenditure by 8–10%, which is especially noticeable during long live sessions and streams. For large enterprises, savings reach millions of kilowatt-hours per year. This leads to reduced carbon pollution and operating costs.

Energy Profiles and Green Renders: Benefits for Casino Owners

In 2025, ESG standards will have become an integral part of the image and reporting of many international firms, including iGaming brands.

When providers demonstrate reduced CO2 emissions and a transition to renewable energy sources, they gain:

• access to green investments and grants;
• trust of players and partners;
• licensing advantages in Europe, the US, and Asia.

For example, in 2024, Betsson Group announced that 100% of the energy for its European data centres would come from renewable sources. This statement, backed by current statistics, became a powerful marketing ploy and allowed entrepreneurs to attract investments, as well as enter new markets.

The Main Things about Environmental Standards in Gambling

The online casino sector has a significant ecological impact.

Key aspects that operators should take into account:

• The environmental impact is generated by the existence of large computing and data centres, as well as server clusters and physical infrastructure. Excessive power consumption is also associated with streaming platforms.
• The development and maintenance of an energy profile allows entrepreneurs to optimise costs. Savings are achieved by a decreased load on the server, transfer of the infrastructure to cleaner sources, and capacity redistribution between regions with low tariffs.

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