The UK Gambling Commission has released its Q2 report, covering data from July to September, which corresponds to the Commission’s Q2 period. This comprehensive report offers valuable insights into the gambling landscape in the United Kingdom, encompassing both land-based and online operators. Notably, the Commission advises against direct comparisons with industry statistics datasets due to differences in data collection methods. The report highlights key findings, including online gross gambling yield (GGY), activity trends, and the performance of various sectors within the industry.
Online Gross Gambling Yield (GGY):
In Q2 2023, the online GGY reached £1.2 billion, demonstrating a modest 0.6% increase compared to the previous year.
Despite the slight increase in GGY, there was a notable surge in the number of bets and spins, rising by 10%. Additionally, active users on online platforms increased by 7%.
Licensed Betting Operators (LBOs) on High Streets:
The GGY from LBOs situated on Britain’s high streets experienced a decrease of 0.4% in Q2 2023, totaling £539 million.
Concurrently, the total number of bets and spins decreased by 1%, amounting to 3.1 billion.
Real Event Betting:
Real event betting GGY decreased by 5% to £428 million in Q2 2023, accompanied by a 1% drop in the total number of bets.
Slot Betting Performance:
Betting on slots saw a notable 8% increase in GGY when compared to Q2 2022, reaching a total of £589 million.
The number of spins on slots and the active monthly users both increased by 11%, with a total of 6.7 billion bets placed on slots.
In contrast, virtual betting witnessed only 9 million bets placed.
Online Slot Session Trends:
The average length of online slot sessions decreased to 17 minutes. However, there was a 4% year-on-year increase in sessions lasting more than one hour, reaching 9.3 million sessions.
The UK Gambling Commission’s Q2 report provides a comprehensive overview of the betting industry in the United Kingdom, offering a glimpse into the performance of various sectors, including online gambling, licensed betting operators, real event betting, and slot betting. While online GGY demonstrated a modest increase, the surge in betting activity and the growth of active users are notable trends. The report also highlights variations in different betting sectors, emphasizing the dynamism and ever-evolving nature of the UK’s gambling landscape. These insights are crucial for industry stakeholders and regulators in understanding the trends and developments within the sector.