A New Report in the UK Reveals Increased Year-on-Year Gambling

The UK Gambling Commission recently posted the country's online Gross Gambling Yield (GGY), revealing a 5% increase compared to the same period last year. Figures show that GGY reached £1.30 billion/$1.62 billion, while land-based GGY also grew. The report on gambling activities covered the first quarter of 2023 when the Cheltenham Festival was happening. 

According to the Commission, the impressive online GGY numbers were due to a surge in live betting and online slots. The UKGC also noted the increased gambling accounts at regulated online live casino sites as a driving force behind high GGY. 

The regulator stated that betting on live events online rose significantly by 13% to £555 million, while the number of bets increased by 19% compared to last year. The market regulator further noted an uptick in the number of active accounts by 9% year on year.

Online slots posted solid GGY numbers, increasing by 2% to £525 million. The Commission also recorded a 9% increase in the number of spins to 19.5 billion and a 15% hike in the average monthly active accounts to 3.9 million.

This report on slot machines came when new research by the Commission showed reduced play intensity that's not connected to harmful consequences. Despite a host of recent changes, it was revealed that there was no negative impact on the general entertainment of players. 

On the other hand, internet gambling activities saw a decline in three categories, including:

• Online casino GGY dropped by 4% to £153 million.
• Online poker fell by 7% to £18 million.
• Virtual betting revenue decreased by 3% to £12 million.
• Esports betting is maintained at the level of £2 million.

Expansion in the Land-Based Sector

Regarding land-based gambling activities in the United Kingdom, this sector's total Gross Gambling Yield shot up by 6% year-on-year to reach £585 million. Gambling machines posted the highest GGY performance, increasing 5% to £292 million. Each session's average spending on these machines increased to £12.26. In addition, the average number of spins per session rose to 131, with at least 3% of the total sessions lasting at least 60 minutes.

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission noted that more people used self-serve betting machines. These machines posted a 28% increase in Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) to £125 million. Generally, the nationwide GGY dropped by 5% to £167 million. The Commission also recorded a drop in the number of wagers by 4% to 138 million.