The numbers are staggering: the UK gambling industry generated a colossal £15.4 billion in the year to March 2023, a figure that both highlights its immense economic footprint and sets the stage for a deeper look into its complex ecosystem, from soaring online revenues to evolving participation trends and the critical challenge of gambling-related harm.
Key Takeaways
- In the year ending March 2023, the total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) for the UK gambling industry reached £15.4 billion, marking a 27% increase from the previous year
- Online casino GGY for the year ending March 2023 was £3.9 billion, up 13% year-on-year, driven by slots and table games
- Non-remote (land-based) GGY totalled £6.5 billion in YE March 2023, with bingo halls contributing £452 million
- 45.3% of UK adults aged 16+ participated in any gambling activity in the past 4 weeks as of FYE March 2023 Gambling Participation Survey
- 16% of adults gambled online only in the past 4 weeks per 2023 GPS
- National Lottery draw participation rate was 34% in past 4 weeks, highest activity in 2023 GPS
- As of June 2024, there were 152 non-remote casino operating licences active in the UK
- 9,766 active betting shop (FOBT) licences reported in Q1 2024 UKGC data
- 584 bingo club licences operational as of March 2024, down 2% YoY
- Slots accounted for 72% of online casino GGY at £2.8 billion in YE March 2024
- Real events betting remote GGY was £3.1 billion in YE March 2024, up 15% YoY
- Online blackjack GGY reached £280 million in YE March 2024
- 0.4% of adults showed signs of problem gambling per 2023 GPS, affecting 170,000 people aged 16+
- 2.2% of adults at moderate risk of gambling harm (PGI 5-7) in 2023 GPS
- £1.3 billion annual net loss by problem gamblers estimated in UK 2023
The UK gambling industry grew significantly, reaching a £15.4 billion yield last year, led by online activity.
Harm and Safer Gambling
- 0.4% of adults showed signs of problem gambling per 2023 GPS, affecting 170,000 people aged 16+
- 2.2% of adults at moderate risk of gambling harm (PGI 5-7) in 2023 GPS
- £1.3 billion annual net loss by problem gamblers estimated in UK 2023
- 47,000 adults at risk of problem gambling from online slots per 2023 data
- Self-exclusion via GAMSTOP registered 200,000+ accounts in 2023
- 31% of problem gamblers were female in latest PGSI survey 2023, up from 20% in 2016
- £235 million spent by industry on responsible gambling in 2023/24
- 5.3% problem gambling rate among 18-24 year olds per 2023 GPS
- 1.7 million adults experienced any gambling-related harm in past year 2023
- 65% of problem gamblers used online slots as primary product per 2023 GPS
- BeGambleAware helpline calls totalled 45,000 in 2023, up 20% YoY
- 12% of low risk gamblers progressed to higher risk within year per longitudinal study 2023
- £500 million in affordability checks threshold breaches flagged 2023
- 25% of problem gamblers unemployed per 2023 GPS demographics
- GamCare treatment referrals 28,500 in 2023
- Debt from gambling averaged £12,000 per problem gambler in 2023 survey
- 8% of online gamblers showed problem gambling indicators in 2023 UKGC data
- 400,000 children aged 11-17 gambled in past year per 2023 YBGP
- 0.7% youth problem gambling rate (11-17) in 2023 YBGP survey
- 70% of problem gamblers chase losses per 2023 GPS behaviour data
- Industry-funded research spend £15 million on harm prevention 2023/24
- 3.8% moderate risk among online-only gamblers per 2023 GPS
- Suicide attempts linked to gambling 10% of cases in 2023 NHS data review
- Self-exclusion compliance 99.5% by operators in 2023 audits
- 15% increase in gambling-related hospital admissions 2023 vs 2022
- 42% of problem gamblers in debt to family/friends per 2023 survey
- Frictionless play checks implemented on 80% of online slots sessions 2023
- BAME groups 2x higher problem gambling rate at 0.8% per 2023 GPS
Harm and Safer Gambling Interpretation
Behind the veneer of £235 million spent on responsible gambling initiatives lies a grim reality where 0.4% of adults—170,000 people—are trapped in a cycle of harm, with their losses funding the very industry that profits from their addiction while 400,000 children are already being drawn into its orbit.
Operator and License Statistics
- As of June 2024, there were 152 non-remote casino operating licences active in the UK
- 9,766 active betting shop (FOBT) licences reported in Q1 2024 UKGC data
- 584 bingo club licences operational as of March 2024, down 2% YoY
- 17,500+ active remote operating licences for online gambling operators serving GB as of 2024
- 8,789 active non-remote betting standard licences (excluding tracks) in YE March 2024
- 2,850 family entertainment centre (FEC) premises licences in Q4 2023
- 142 active land-based casino licences in England as of 2024
- Over 400 remote casino operators hold active GB licences per UKGC public register 2024
- 5,612 adult gaming centre (AGC) licences active in YE March 2024
- 24 horserace tracks with betting licences as of 2024
- 1,120 society lottery operating licences granted in 2023/24 financial year
- 76 remote betting intermediaries licensed in GB as of March 2024
- 3,250 bingo licences (remote and non-remote combined) active in 2024
- Licence revocation rate was 1.2% for remote operators in 2023/24
- 428 gambling machine permits issued for clubs and pubs in YE March 2024
- 2,400+ personal management licences (key personnel) for remote operators in 2024
- 1,456 track betting licences (greyhound and horse) active Q1 2024
- Compliance visits to operators totalled 2,450 in 2023/24
- 150 new remote operating licences issued in 2023/24 FY
- 7,200 betting shop premises licences in Scotland and Wales combined 2024
- Fines totalling £44 million imposed on licensees in 2023/24
- 320 personal functional licences for gambling management in non-remote sector 2024
- 85% of remote operators passed AML compliance checks in 2023 audits
- 1,780 lottery management licences active in 2024
- 45 greyhound stadia with betting licences as of 2024
Operator and License Statistics Interpretation
Despite an intimidating regulatory maze of 17,500 online licences and nearly 10,000 betting shops, the UK gambling industry's real bet seems to be on the hope that £44 million in fines and a 1.2% revocation rate will be enough to keep its sprawling empire in check.
Participation Rates
- 45.3% of UK adults aged 16+ participated in any gambling activity in the past 4 weeks as of FYE March 2023 Gambling Participation Survey
- 16% of adults gambled online only in the past 4 weeks per 2023 GPS
- National Lottery draw participation rate was 34% in past 4 weeks, highest activity in 2023 GPS
- Online slots past year participation among adults was 20.1% in 2023 GPS
- 5.9% of adults bought National Lottery scratchcards in past 4 weeks per 2023 GPS
- Men aged 25-34 showed 62% past year gambling rate in 2023 GPS, highest demographic
- 47% of online gamblers participated in casino games past year per 2023 GPS
- Past 4 weeks betting on horse races at 7.2% adult participation in 2023 GPS
- 2.3% of adults played online poker in past year per 2023 GPS
- ABC1 socioeconomic group had 52% past 4 weeks participation vs 37% C2DE in 2023 GPS
- 18-24 year olds online gambling past year rate was 48% in 2023 GPS
- Any sports betting past 4 weeks: 14.5% adults per 2023 GPS
- Bingo past year participation 8.4% adults, higher among women at 10% in 2023 GPS
- Private betting past 4 weeks: 3.1% adults per 2023 GPS
- Roulette online past year: 6.5% adults in 2023 GPS
- 22% of adults gambled in past year but not past 4 weeks per 2023 GPS
- Online slots past 4 weeks: 4.8% adults per 2023 GPS
- Lottery online participation past 4 weeks: 10.2% in 2023 GPS
- 35-44 age group highest past 4 weeks gambling at 51% per 2023 GPS
- Casino table games past year: 9.1% adults per 2023 GPS
- Gambling via apps past year: 28% adults in 2023 GPS
- Football betting past 4 weeks: 11.3% adults per 2023 GPS
- Women participation rate 42% vs men 49% past 4 weeks in 2023 GPS
- Online bingo past year: 7.2% adults per 2023 GPS
- Non-online slots past 4 weeks: 2.1% adults per 2023 GPS
- 55+ age group lottery participation 45% past 4 weeks in 2023 GPS
- E-sports betting past year: 1.8% adults per 2023 GPS
- Gambling on dog races past 4 weeks: 1.4% per 2023 GPS
- Online real events betting past year: 25% adults per 2023 GPS
- Scratchcard non-online past 4 weeks: 4.2% per 2023 GPS
Participation Rates Interpretation
While the National Lottery charmingly leads the pack as Britain's "respectable flutter," the data reveals a nation deeply engaged in a diverse gambling ecosystem, where nearly half of adults place a bet, men aged 25-34 are the most likely punters, and online slots have quietly recruited a fifth of the population in the past year alone.
Product-Specific Stats
- Slots accounted for 72% of online casino GGY at £2.8 billion in YE March 2024
- Real events betting remote GGY was £3.1 billion in YE March 2024, up 15% YoY
- Online blackjack GGY reached £280 million in YE March 2024
- FOBTs GGY stabilised at £130 million post-£2 stake limit in YE March 2024
- National Lottery draw GGY was £3.6 billion in FY 2023/24
- Virtual events betting GGY online £52 million in YE March 2024
- Slots in betting shops GGY £1.05 billion in YE March 2024
- Roulette GGY online £210 million in YE March 2024
- Horse racing betting total GGY £680 million YE March 2024
- Instant win games (Society lotteries) GGY £310 million YE March 2024
- Poker cash games GGY remote £165 million YE March 2024
- Greyhound betting GGY £120 million total YE March 2024
- Baccarat online GGY £45 million in YE March 2024
- Football accumulators contributed 40% of sports betting GGY at £1.2 billion YE March 2024
- Arcade machines GGY £1.15 billion non-remote YE March 2024
- Live dealer casino games GGY £320 million online YE March 2024
- Scratchcards National Lottery GGY £1.4 billion FY 2023/24
- Peer-to-peer poker GGY £35 million YE March 2024
- In-play betting GGY 55% of remote sports betting at £1.7 billion YE March 2024
- Bingo online slots hybrid GGY £95 million YE March 2024
- Table games land-based casino GGY £180 million YE March 2024
- E-sports betting remote GGY £18 million YE March 2024
- Lotto draws average weekly GGY £70 million in 2023/24
- Video poker online GGY £22 million YE March 2024
- Casino slots land-based GGY £250 million YE March 2024
- Spread betting financials GGY £95 million YE March 2024
Product-Specific Stats Interpretation
The British public's insatiable appetite for spinning reels and football accumulators funded a £19 billion annual habit, proving that while the house always wins, the nation is determined to keep playing every angle.
Revenue and GGY
- In the year ending March 2023, the total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) for the UK gambling industry reached £15.4 billion, marking a 27% increase from the previous year
- Online casino GGY for the year ending March 2023 was £3.9 billion, up 13% year-on-year, driven by slots and table games
- Non-remote (land-based) GGY totalled £6.5 billion in YE March 2023, with bingo halls contributing £452 million
- Betting GGY (remote and non-remote) hit £4.2 billion in YE March 2023, boosted by football events
- Lotteries GGY stood at £2.1 billion for YE March 2023, primarily from National Lottery products
- Peer-to-peer betting GGY was £127 million in YE March 2023, reflecting niche market growth
- Total stakes placed online reached £85.7 billion in YE March 2023, a 9% increase YoY
- Online slots GGY accounted for 45% of total online casino GGY at £1.8 billion in YE March 2023
- Land-based casino GGY was £248 million in YE March 2023, down slightly due to closures
- Total GGY from remote betting (excluding spread betting) was £2.8 billion in YE March 2023
- Machine GGY from arcades was £1.1 billion in YE March 2023
- Society lotteries GGY grew to £285 million in YE March 2023, up 15%
- Total returns to players (RTP) across all sectors averaged 92.5% in YE March 2023
- Online poker GGY was £152 million in YE March 2023, stable YoY
- FOBT (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals) GGY dropped to £142 million post-stake limits in YE March 2023
- GGY per active online casino account averaged £1,250 in YE March 2023
- Remote lottery GGY excluding National Lottery was £680 million in YE March 2023
- Total GGY growth rate for online segments was 24% in YE March 2023 vs previous year
- Land-based betting shops GGY was £1.2 billion in YE March 2023
- Virtual sports GGY contributed £45 million online in YE March 2023
- Bingo GGY remote was £210 million in YE March 2023
- Esports betting GGY was emerging at £12 million remote in YE March 2023
- Total GGY from all remote activities was £8.9 billion in YE March 2023
- Horseracing betting GGY was £650 million in YE March 2023
- Online gaming machines GGY outside casinos was £320 million in YE March 2023
- GGY from table games online was £450 million in YE March 2023
- Total industry GGY excluding lottery was £13.3 billion in YE March 2023
- Spread betting GGY was £89 million remote in YE March 2023
- Family entertainment centre GGY from machines was £156 million in YE March 2023
Revenue and GGY Interpretation
The UK gambling industry minted a staggering £15.4 billion last year, proving that while the house always wins, it’s currently on a fantastic winning streak fuelled by our screens and sofas.