The Gambling Commission’s latest market impact data for Q1 of the 2024-2025 financial year highlights a period of notable changes and growth in various sectors of the gambling industry.
Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) Growth
Online gambling has seen a remarkable expansion, with the total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) reaching £1.46 billion ($1.87 billion) in the first quarter of 2024-2025. This figure represents a 12% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth underscores the growing popularity and increasing engagement in online gambling platforms.
Bets and Spins Reach Record Highs
The number of bets and spins in the online sector has also experienced a notable rise, climbing by 11% to reach an unprecedented total of 24.5 billion. This surge in activity indicates a heightened level of engagement among online gamblers.
Increase in Monthly Active Accounts
The number of monthly active accounts in the online gambling sector has grown by 9%, reflecting a broader user base and greater participation across various platforms.
Growth in Gross Gambling Yield
Real-event betting has demonstrated impressive growth, with GGY increasing by 16% year-on-year to £625 million. This sector’s growth is likely attributed to major sporting events such as UEFA Euro 2024, which drew significant betting interest.
Decrease in Number of Bets
Interestingly, despite the rise in GGY, the number of bets placed in this sector has decreased by 7%. This suggests that while individual bets might have increased in value, overall betting frequency has diminished.
Gross Gambling Yield and Engagement Metrics
The slots sector has shown continued expansion, with GGY rising by 10% to £642 million. The number of spins has increased by 12% to 22.4 billion, and the number of monthly active accounts has also seen a rise of 11% to reach 4.4 million—setting record highs in all these metrics.
Slot Sessions and Duration
A notable trend in the slots sector is the increase in sessions lasting over an hour, which rose by 8% to 9.6 million. Despite this increase, the average session length has remained steady at 17 minutes. The proportion of sessions exceeding one hour, however, stands at only 6%, marking the lowest percentage recorded in this dataset.
Gross Gambling Yield Decrease
In contrast to the online gambling boom, Licensed Betting Operators (LBOs) on Britain’s high streets have experienced a minor decline. The GGY for this sector decreased by 1% to £582 million, indicating a slight downturn in performance.
Decrease in Bets and Spins
The number of bets and spins for high street betting also saw a reduction of 1%, totaling 3.2 billion. This decline suggests a shift in consumer preference towards online platforms over traditional high street betting shops.
Cautions and Considerations
The Gambling Commission notes that the data presented may include free bets and bonuses and does not encompass all operators. Therefore, comparisons with other industry statistics should be approached with caution. Additionally, an ongoing investigation into product categorization could lead to adjustments in the data across different gambling verticals.
The Gambling Commission’s latest report highlights a dynamic period in the gambling industry, with online gambling showing robust growth and high street betting facing a slight decline. The substantial increase in online GGY, the rise in the number of bets and spins, and the record highs in the slots sector reflect a shift towards digital gambling platforms. Conversely, traditional high street operations have seen a minor reduction in activity. These trends provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the gambling market and the shifting preferences of consumers.