Ecological Responsibility of Casinos As a Growth Path

Digital gaming is rapidly transforming — not only technologically, but also strategically. Today, many providers and developers are taking into account the climate agenda, as it is no longer just a trend, but a competitive advantage.

Environmental Awareness in Gaming

This is a systematic work of companies aimed at:

• reducing the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases;
• using renewable power sources;
• offsetting residual ejections (through participation in eco-friendly projects);
• implementing the relevant practices in the infrastructure, administration, and culture of iGaming brands.

Understanding the unique ecological risks and features of online gambling helps operators to:

• build a good action plan;
• comply with regulatory requirements;
• create competitive advantages.

How Casino Entertainment is Related to Green Policy

Virtual gaming has a real carbon footprint. Servers, data centres, offices — all this consumes resources and affects the ecology.

About 5 years ago, the industry faced new expectations from players, regulators, and investors. The answer was the introduction of climate-responsible strategies.

Let us consider the features of the iGaming sector in relation to the environment.

Digital Nature of Business and Load On the IT Infrastructure

Casino entertainment is a virtual ecosystem based on the uninterrupted work of:

• servers;
• websites;
• streaming;
• real-time analytical systems.

In practice, this means constant use of large amounts of electricity, especially in data centres where engines, payment gateways, KYC systems, and fraud protection tools are located.

Growing Traffic and Scaling

Gambling activity is increasing annually, especially in mobile and live segments.

Every action (from spinning a reel to a video stream with a dealer) requires computing power, information processing, and the transfer of details. This leads to an increase in the load on the digital infrastructure, Scope 2 emissions, the need to optimise IT systems, and the necessity to switch to green data centres.

Global Structure

Online operators do business in dozens of countries at the same time. For example, a licence can be issued in Malta, the headquarters are located in London, and customer service is carried out in Tallinn.

This format of work creates difficulties in the following areas:

• assessment and management of emissions in every field (including the supply chain);
• harmonisation of stability and reporting standards;
• transition to “green” power sources across the entire structure.

Work in Jurisdictions with the Tightening of ESG Regulation

The largest iGaming markets are the EU, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Local authorities perform the following tasks:

• promote mandatory ESG reporting;
• introduce carbon fees;
• require licensees to be socially and climatically responsible.

Ignoring these rules jeopardises the legal status and financial stability of companies, as well as the trust of investors and users.

Competition for a Value-Oriented Audience

Players pay attention not only to bonuses and UX, but also to the ethics of entertainment brands, their social position, and eco-agenda.

Those entrepreneurs who declare and implement sustainable practices receive:

• more trust from the target audience;
• enhanced conversion and retention;
• strong emotional attachment of customers.

Benefits of Climate Awareness for Virtual Casinos

The main advantages of following ESG initiatives:

1. Increased investment and market attractiveness. Enterprises with a clear climate strategy receive better ratings from such agencies as Sustainalytics, CDP, or MSCI, as well as access to financing and partnerships.
2. Compliance with international policies. Regulators in the UK, EU, Canada, and Australia are introducing requirements for ESG accounting (for example, mandatory publication of reports on the volume of carbon footprint). Non-observance of these rules can lead to fines, blocking of transactions, and loss of a licence.
3. Increased operational efficiency. The transition to renewable energy reduces the cost of maintaining servers and data centres, reduces dependence on fluctuations in the prices for energy, and reduces the carbon levy.

Implement ESG Initiatives: the Experience of Market Leaders

Let us consider how the owners of iGaming projects integrate climate responsibility into their strategies.

Play'n Go: Commitments to Emission Reduction

In May 2024, the company presented its first Sustainability Report, setting an ambitious goal of cutting Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in 1 year.

The statement was a logical continuation of a series of initiatives implemented since 2023. It clearly reflects the firm’s course on social conscience as well.

As part of the decarbonisation plan, Play'n Go has already applied the following measures:

1. Transition to green energy. The brand’s information centres and key offices use only renewable options.
2. Power efficiency of the infrastructure. The provider updated lighting systems (LED), implemented intelligent HVAC programs, and minimised the “hidden” energy footprint of cloud solutions. Optimisation of server capacities allowed the developer to reduce power consumption without a decrease in the enterprise’s KPI.
3. Reduction of Scope 2. By purchasing energy certificates (RECs) and switching to suppliers with a zero carbon footprint, Play’n Go lowered its Scope 2 emissions by 45% by the end of 2024.

The transition to digital-first and green energy will allow the company to:

• reduce CO2 emissions by tens of tons every year;
• improve ecological rating (ISO certification and ESG assessment from investors);
• develop the brand of the future — socially responsible, inclusive, and environmentally conscious.

Betsson AB: Carbon Neutrality Through Offsets

One of the largest European operators actively integrates the principles of sustainable development into its business model. The vendor relies on adequate energy consumption and transparent ESG reporting.

The firm participates in projects aimed at:

• restoring forests and ecosystems;
• creating renewable power sources in countries with high emissions;
• supporting international attempts to reduce the greenhouse effect.

The enterprise actively cooperates with clean power suppliers to ensure the smooth work of its data centres and game servers. Besides, the provider launched programs to reduce the use of plastic, switch to paperless document management, and digitalise all business processes.

In 2023–2024, a significant part of the IT infrastructure was transferred to energy obtained from wind and solar installations in EU countries.

Moreover, several systems that optimise the energy use were implemented, including:

• intelligent refrigeration (liquid-cooling, free-air systems);
• power-efficient servers and next-generation data storage.

In 2024, the company received the prestigious “Strategy of the Year” title at the EGR Operator Awards.

The professional jury noted:

• a systematic approach to stable growth;
• transparency and regularity of ESG reports;
• high standards of compliance, labour protection, and social responsibility;
• long-term liabilities in the field of environmental and ethical management.

LeoVegas: Transition to Renewable Sources

One of the leaders in the European iGaming market is actively implementing an ESG strategy, combining eco-responsibility with digital innovation.

The brand’s key areas include switching to green energy, reducing its carbon footprint, and introducing a responsible gaming culture using AI.

Since 2024, all LeoVegas digital platforms, including entertainment servers, cloud solutions, and corporate offices, have performed the following tasks:

• work on 100% renewable sources;
• use solar and wind generation with RE100 and GO (Guarantees of Origin) certification.

The decision to apply the described practices helped the supplier to zero out Scope 2 emissions and receive recognition from European ESG rating agencies.

LeoVegas also invests in such international climate compensation projects as:

• reforestation in Southeast Asia and South America;
• development of sustainable agriculture and energy-efficient housing in countries with high vulnerability to climate risks;
• projects with VCS and Gold Standard certification.

Pragmatic Play: Donations to Nature Conservancy

In 2024, the firm supported several environmental initiatives in Eastern and Northern Europe:

• €10,000 — WWF Romania. The funds are used to preserve the ecosystems of the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta.
• €10,000 — Mai Mult Verde organisation. The provider financed the planting of hundreds of trees as part of a program to restore green areas. The company's partner was a Romanian ecological fund that works with young people and local communities.
• €20,000 — the amount was allocated for the protection of brown bears in the Baltic. The money is used to support special shelters and rehabilitation centres.

These initiatives strengthen the sustainable image of the Pragmatic Play brand, demonstrating that it can invest in the restoration of nature and the protection of biodiversity, not just limit itself to business.

Entain: Infrastructural Arrangements

The owner of the well-known companies such as Bwin, Coral, Ladbrokes, and PartyPoker holds a leading position in terms of sustainability in the virtual casino niche.

In 2024, the enterprise confirmed its climate goal — to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2035, ahead of the industry average results by a decade.

To promote Net-Zero, Entain is adhering to a step-by-step ESG strategy:

1. Power efficiency. The focus is on the modernisation of office buildings and the transition to “smart” climate systems. The brand uses server equipment with reduced energy consumption (liquid cooling, low-energy clusters) and introduces green cloud infrastructure standards (in partnership with Microsoft Azure). Solar and wind generation comes from RE100 and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
2. Residual emissions offset. Entain invests in international projects to restore forests and protect wetlands, along with peatlands. Besides, the vendor supports sustainable power and biodiversity programs in Asia and South America.
3. Reporting. The firm publishes annual ESG and Climate Risk reports, following the recommendations of TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures).

Thanks to its effective work in the field of ESG, the company is included in the FTSE4Good and Bloomberg Gender Equality Index. It is also recognised as one of the most responsible providers according to Sustainalytics.

The Main Things about Ecological Policies in Gaming

Climate awareness is not just a trend, but a tool for stable growth and the formation of entertainment brands of the future.

Key aspects that entrepreneurs should take into account:

• The implementation of ESG initiatives helps to quickly gain the trust of players and investors, as well as to protect and adapt the business to legal changes. Operators can reduce their impact on the climate because the rapid scaling of the industry should not lead to the destruction of the environment.
• Among the enterprises that successfully follow ESG practices, we can name Play’n Go, Betsson AB, Pragmatic Play, and Entain. They invest in green energy, finance eco-friendly protection projects, and compensate for CO2 emissions.

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