What is GGR in iGaming? Gross Gaming Revenue Explained
GGR is the money players stake minus the winnings paid back, before bonuses, taxes and costs.
GGR (gross gaming revenue) is the amount players stake with an online casino or sportsbook minus the winnings the operator pays back. It is the gross win before bonuses, taxes, fees and other costs. Operators use it as the top-line figure for gaming activity.
Formula
- GGR = total stakes − winnings paid to players
- Hold = GGR ÷ total stakes
For a casino, stakes are bets on slots, tables and live games. For a sportsbook, stakes are bets placed and winnings are payouts on settled bets. NGR is what remains after the deductions listed on its own page.
Example. Players stake €2,000,000 in a month and are paid €1,880,000 in winnings. GGR is €120,000. Hold is 6%.
How operators use GGR
GGR is the quickest revenue figure to produce, so dashboards, investor materials and market reports start from it. Hold by game or sport shows whether results sit within the expected margin.
CRM teams should not stop at GGR. A campaign can raise it while bonus cost and taxes take most of the gain. See NGR vs GGR for the full comparison.
Common mistakes
- Mixing GGR figures from different sources. Bonus treatment can differ.
- Treating GGR as profit. Costs sit below it.
- Quoting hold from a short period. Variance in a few days can swing it widely.
- Judging a retention campaign on GGR. Use NGR, and compare treated and control groups as described in incremental lift.
Related terms
NGR, player LTV and the campaign economics calculator.
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Discuss a campaignFrequently asked questions
What does GGR stand for?
GGR stands for gross gaming revenue. It is the amount staked by players minus the winnings paid to them over a period.
What is the difference between GGR and NGR?
GGR is the gross win before costs. NGR is GGR after bonuses, taxes, fees and other agreed deductions. NGR is normally the smaller figure, because deductions come off GGR.
Is GGR the same as turnover?
No. Turnover is the total amount staked. GGR is what the operator retains from those stakes after paying winnings.
Do bonuses reduce GGR?
It depends on the definition. GGR is stakes minus winnings paid, so bonus cost is normally taken off later, at the NGR step. Check how your finance team treats bonuses before comparing figures.