UK gambling statistics are putting new pressure on both policy and personal responsibility, with self exclusion via GAMSTOP reaching 200,000 plus registered accounts in 2023. At the same time, problem gambling indicators are not rare, with 0.4% of adults showing signs of problem gambling in the 2023 GPS, while online slots sit at the center of much of the harm.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Around 0.4% of adults showed problem gambling signs in 2023, with major losses tied to online slots.
Related reading
01 · Category
Harm and Safer Gambling28 stats
01
0.4% of adults showed signs of problem gambling per 2023 GPS, affecting 170,000 people aged 16+
02
2.2% of adults at moderate risk of gambling harm (PGI 5-7) in 2023 GPS
03
£1.3 billion annual net loss by problem gamblers estimated in UK 2023
04
47,000 adults at risk of problem gambling from online slots per 2023 data
05
Self-exclusion via GAMSTOP registered 200,000+ accounts in 2023
06
31% of problem gamblers were female in latest PGSI survey 2023, up from 20% in 2016
07
£235 million spent by industry on responsible gambling in 2023/24
08
5.3% problem gambling rate among 18-24 year olds per 2023 GPS
09
1.7 million adults experienced any gambling-related harm in past year 2023
10
65% of problem gamblers used online slots as primary product per 2023 GPS
11
BeGambleAware helpline calls totalled 45,000 in 2023, up 20% YoY
12
12% of low risk gamblers progressed to higher risk within year per longitudinal study 2023
13
£500 million in affordability checks threshold breaches flagged 2023
14
25% of problem gamblers unemployed per 2023 GPS demographics
15
GamCare treatment referrals 28,500 in 2023
16
Debt from gambling averaged £12,000 per problem gambler in 2023 survey
17
8% of online gamblers showed problem gambling indicators in 2023 UKGC data
18
400,000 children aged 11-17 gambled in past year per 2023 YBGP
19
0.7% youth problem gambling rate (11-17) in 2023 YBGP survey
20
70% of problem gamblers chase losses per 2023 GPS behaviour data
21
Industry-funded research spend £15 million on harm prevention 2023/24
22
3.8% moderate risk among online-only gamblers per 2023 GPS
23
Suicide attempts linked to gambling 10% of cases in 2023 NHS data review
24
Self-exclusion compliance 99.5% by operators in 2023 audits
25
15% increase in gambling-related hospital admissions 2023 vs 2022
26
42% of problem gamblers in debt to family/friends per 2023 survey
27
Frictionless play checks implemented on 80% of online slots sessions 2023
28
BAME groups 2x higher problem gambling rate at 0.8% per 2023 GPS
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Operator and License Statistics25 stats
01
As of June 2024, there were 152 non-remote casino operating licences active in the UK
02
9,766 active betting shop (FOBT) licences reported in Q1 2024 UKGC data
03
584 bingo club licences operational as of March 2024, down 2% YoY
04
17,500+ active remote operating licences for online gambling operators serving GB as of 2024
05
8,789 active non-remote betting standard licences (excluding tracks) in YE March 2024
06
2,850 family entertainment centre (FEC) premises licences in Q4 2023
07
142 active land-based casino licences in England as of 2024
08
Over 400 remote casino operators hold active GB licences per UKGC public register 2024
09
5,612 adult gaming centre (AGC) licences active in YE March 2024
10
24 horserace tracks with betting licences as of 2024
11
1,120 society lottery operating licences granted in 2023/24 financial year
12
76 remote betting intermediaries licensed in GB as of March 2024
13
3,250 bingo licences (remote and non-remote combined) active in 2024
14
Licence revocation rate was 1.2% for remote operators in 2023/24
15
428 gambling machine permits issued for clubs and pubs in YE March 2024
16
2,400+ personal management licences (key personnel) for remote operators in 2024
17
1,456 track betting licences (greyhound and horse) active Q1 2024
18
Compliance visits to operators totalled 2,450 in 2023/24
19
150 new remote operating licences issued in 2023/24 FY
20
7,200 betting shop premises licences in Scotland and Wales combined 2024
21
Fines totalling £44 million imposed on licensees in 2023/24
22
320 personal functional licences for gambling management in non-remote sector 2024
23
85% of remote operators passed AML compliance checks in 2023 audits
24
1,780 lottery management licences active in 2024
25
45 greyhound stadia with betting licences as of 2024
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Participation Rates30 stats
01
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
02
16% of adults gambled online only in the past 4 weeks per 2023 GPS
03
National Lottery draw participation rate was 34% in past 4 weeks, highest activity in 2023 GPS
04
Online slots past year participation among adults was 20.1% in 2023 GPS
05
5.9% of adults bought National Lottery scratchcards in past 4 weeks per 2023 GPS
06
Men aged 25-34 showed 62% past year gambling rate in 2023 GPS, highest demographic
07
47% of online gamblers participated in casino games past year per 2023 GPS
08
Past 4 weeks betting on horse races at 7.2% adult participation in 2023 GPS
09
2.3% of adults played online poker in past year per 2023 GPS
10
ABC1 socioeconomic group had 52% past 4 weeks participation vs 37% C2DE in 2023 GPS
11
18-24 year olds online gambling past year rate was 48% in 2023 GPS
12
Any sports betting past 4 weeks: 14.5% adults per 2023 GPS
13
Bingo past year participation 8.4% adults, higher among women at 10% in 2023 GPS
14
Private betting past 4 weeks: 3.1% adults per 2023 GPS
15
Roulette online past year: 6.5% adults in 2023 GPS
16
22% of adults gambled in past year but not past 4 weeks per 2023 GPS
17
Online slots past 4 weeks: 4.8% adults per 2023 GPS
18
Lottery online participation past 4 weeks: 10.2% in 2023 GPS
19
35-44 age group highest past 4 weeks gambling at 51% per 2023 GPS
20
Casino table games past year: 9.1% adults per 2023 GPS
21
Gambling via apps past year: 28% adults in 2023 GPS
22
Football betting past 4 weeks: 11.3% adults per 2023 GPS
23
Women participation rate 42% vs men 49% past 4 weeks in 2023 GPS
24
Online bingo past year: 7.2% adults per 2023 GPS
25
Non-online slots past 4 weeks: 2.1% adults per 2023 GPS
26
55+ age group lottery participation 45% past 4 weeks in 2023 GPS
27
E-sports betting past year: 1.8% adults per 2023 GPS
28
Gambling on dog races past 4 weeks: 1.4% per 2023 GPS
29
Online real events betting past year: 25% adults per 2023 GPS
30
Scratchcard non-online past 4 weeks: 4.2% per 2023 GPS
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Product-Specific Stats26 stats
01
Slots accounted for 72% of online casino GGY at £2.8 billion in YE March 2024
02
Real events betting remote GGY was £3.1 billion in YE March 2024, up 15% YoY
03
Online blackjack GGY reached £280 million in YE March 2024
04
FOBTs GGY stabilised at £130 million post-£2 stake limit in YE March 2024
05
National Lottery draw GGY was £3.6 billion in FY 2023/24
06
Virtual events betting GGY online £52 million in YE March 2024
07
Slots in betting shops GGY £1.05 billion in YE March 2024
08
Roulette GGY online £210 million in YE March 2024
09
Horse racing betting total GGY £680 million YE March 2024
10
Instant win games (Society lotteries) GGY £310 million YE March 2024
11
Poker cash games GGY remote £165 million YE March 2024
12
Greyhound betting GGY £120 million total YE March 2024
13
Baccarat online GGY £45 million in YE March 2024
14
Football accumulators contributed 40% of sports betting GGY at £1.2 billion YE March 2024
15
Arcade machines GGY £1.15 billion non-remote YE March 2024
16
Live dealer casino games GGY £320 million online YE March 2024
17
Scratchcards National Lottery GGY £1.4 billion FY 2023/24
18
Peer-to-peer poker GGY £35 million YE March 2024
19
In-play betting GGY 55% of remote sports betting at £1.7 billion YE March 2024
20
Bingo online slots hybrid GGY £95 million YE March 2024
21
Table games land-based casino GGY £180 million YE March 2024
22
E-sports betting remote GGY £18 million YE March 2024
23
Lotto draws average weekly GGY £70 million in 2023/24
24
Video poker online GGY £22 million YE March 2024
25
Casino slots land-based GGY £250 million YE March 2024
26
Spread betting financials GGY £95 million YE March 2024
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Revenue and GGY29 stats
01
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
02
Online casino GGY for the year ending March 2023 was £3.9 billion, up 13% year-on-year, driven by slots and table games
03
Non-remote (land-based) GGY totalled £6.5 billion in YE March 2023, with bingo halls contributing £452 million
04
Betting GGY (remote and non-remote) hit £4.2 billion in YE March 2023, boosted by football events
05
Lotteries GGY stood at £2.1 billion for YE March 2023, primarily from National Lottery products
06
Peer-to-peer betting GGY was £127 million in YE March 2023, reflecting niche market growth
07
Total stakes placed online reached £85.7 billion in YE March 2023, a 9% increase YoY
08
Online slots GGY accounted for 45% of total online casino GGY at £1.8 billion in YE March 2023
09
Land-based casino GGY was £248 million in YE March 2023, down slightly due to closures
10
Total GGY from remote betting (excluding spread betting) was £2.8 billion in YE March 2023
11
Machine GGY from arcades was £1.1 billion in YE March 2023
12
Society lotteries GGY grew to £285 million in YE March 2023, up 15%
13
Total returns to players (RTP) across all sectors averaged 92.5% in YE March 2023
14
Online poker GGY was £152 million in YE March 2023, stable YoY
15
FOBT (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals) GGY dropped to £142 million post-stake limits in YE March 2023
16
GGY per active online casino account averaged £1,250 in YE March 2023
17
Remote lottery GGY excluding National Lottery was £680 million in YE March 2023
18
Total GGY growth rate for online segments was 24% in YE March 2023 vs previous year
19
Land-based betting shops GGY was £1.2 billion in YE March 2023
20
Virtual sports GGY contributed £45 million online in YE March 2023
21
Bingo GGY remote was £210 million in YE March 2023
22
Esports betting GGY was emerging at £12 million remote in YE March 2023
23
Total GGY from all remote activities was £8.9 billion in YE March 2023
24
Horseracing betting GGY was £650 million in YE March 2023
25
Online gaming machines GGY outside casinos was £320 million in YE March 2023
26
GGY from table games online was £450 million in YE March 2023
27
Total industry GGY excluding lottery was £13.3 billion in YE March 2023
28
Spread betting GGY was £89 million remote in YE March 2023
29
Family entertainment centre GGY from machines was £156 million in YE March 2023
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Uk Gambling Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-gambling-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Uk Gambling Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uk-gambling-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Uk Gambling Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-gambling-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
4 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level