Top Gaming Industry ETFs in 2025: Prices, Performance & Key Insights

Andy Smith, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and licensed realtor with over 35 years of financial expertise, specializes in personal finance, corporate finance, and real estate. He has guided thousands toward achieving their financial goals.

What Is a Gaming Industry ETF?

Gaming Industry ETFs are exchange-traded funds focusing on companies involved in casinos, sports betting, and video gaming sectors. These ETFs aim to mirror the performance of specific gaming-related indexes, providing investors with diversified exposure to the gaming economy.

While primarily targeting casino and sports gambling firms, many gaming ETFs also include video game developers and electronic entertainment companies, broadening their investment scope.

Key Highlights

• Gaming Industry ETFs encompass companies from casino operations, sports betting, and video game development.
• VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF is one of the largest, featuring firms like Nintendo and Roblox alongside hardware producers such as Nvidia and AMD.
• VanEck Gaming ETF covers casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and gaming technology providers.
• Performance heavily depends on consumer discretionary spending and overall economic health.
• Despite lower fees and ease of trading, thorough research is essential before investing.

How Gaming Industry ETFs Work

ETFs are baskets of securities traded like stocks on exchanges, offering liquidity and flexibility. Gaming ETFs track indexes comprising companies that earn revenue from various gaming activities, including casinos, sports betting, and video games.

Their success is closely tied to economic cycles; strong economies boost discretionary spending on entertainment, while downturns can reduce gaming revenues.

Popular Gaming Industry ETFs in 2024

The VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) manages over $250 million as of early 2024, investing in video game giants like Nintendo (NTDOY) and Roblox (RBLX), plus semiconductor leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD.

Another key player, the VanEck Gaming ETF (BJK), with about $46 million under management, invests in casino operators, sports betting firms, lotteries, and gaming technology companies.

As of 2024, BJK’s portfolio includes 33 companies such as VICI Properties (a major casino real estate trust), Flutter Entertainment (a leading bookmaker), and Las Vegas Sands, a prominent casino and resort operator.

Global Gambling Market Size: $702.45 Billion in 2023

The worldwide gambling industry reached an estimated $702.45 billion in 2023, highlighting its vast economic footprint.

Advantages of Investing in Gaming Industry ETFs

Gaming ETFs offer low expense ratios, strong liquidity, and tax efficiency. They trade on major exchanges and allow investors to diversify across multiple gaming-related companies, reducing individual stock risk.

These funds provide an accessible way to gain exposure to the gaming sector without the need for in-depth company-specific research.

Important Considerations for Investors

Investors should carefully review each ETF’s investment objectives, holdings, and fees to ensure alignment with their financial goals. Some ETFs may carry higher fees that impact net returns.

Economic conditions significantly influence gaming revenues. For instance, global events like the 2020 pandemic lockdowns severely affected casinos and resorts. Additionally, discretionary spending tends to decline during economic downturns, affecting gaming profits.

Geographical factors also matter. Cities like Las Vegas and Macau dominate casino revenues, with Macau’s market sensitive to policies affecting Chinese mainland visitors, impacting casino operator stock prices.

How to Invest in the Gambling Sector

The simplest approach is purchasing shares in gaming ETFs that hold a diversified basket of casino and gaming companies. Alternatively, investors can buy individual stocks such as DraftKings, though this requires more research and carries higher company-specific risks.

Size of the U.S. Gambling Industry

The gambling sector in the United States generates approximately $60 billion in annual revenue, including publicly traded resorts and private as well as tribal casinos.

Leading Gambling Companies in 2024

Las Vegas Sands leads the casino industry with a market capitalization exceeding $37 billion, followed by Flutter Entertainment at nearly $29 billion as of early 2024.

Final Thoughts

Gaming Industry ETFs offer a compelling way to invest in the dynamic gambling and video gaming sectors, providing diversified exposure without the risks of single-stock investments. With the global gaming market expanding, these ETFs present attractive opportunities for investors seeking growth in entertainment-related industries.

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