Growth and Shifts in Great Britain’s Gambling Industry: Insights from the Latest Report
The latest Gambling Industry Statistics report for Great Britain provides a comprehensive overview of the customer-facing gambling sector, revealing significant trends and developments.
Year-to-year increase
Between April 2022 and March 2023, the total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) of the industry reached a notable £15.1 billion, marking a 6.8% increase from the previous year.
Excluding the contributions from lotteries, the GGY was reported at £10.9 billion, showing a 9.3% increase. Despite these growth figures, there was a noticeable decline in the total number of gambling premises, which dropped to 8,301, and a 3.9% decrease in the total number of betting shops, now totaling 5,995.
Growth and Shifts
In the realm of remote gambling, the sector saw a GGY of £6.5 billion. This includes £4.0 billion generated from online casino games, with a significant portion of £3.2 billion coming from slot games. Remote betting followed with a total of £2.3 billion, led predominantly by football and horse betting. Remote bingo added a further £173.6 million to this tally. Interestingly, the report highlights an increase in new account registrations and active accounts in this sector, suggesting a growing interest in online gambling platforms.
Non-remote gambling sectors also saw varied performances. The non-remote betting GGY stood at £2.5 billion, a 15.4% increase from the previous period, and the non-remote casino sector earned £810.4 million in GGY. However, this was a decrease from the pre-lockdown period. Non-remote bingo and arcade sectors also reported increases in their GGY.
The report also sheds light on the significant contributions made by lotteries to good causes. The National Lottery contributed £1.7 billion, while large society lotteries raised £421.7 million for various social causes.
Our Comment on the Article
Overall, the report indicates a robust performance of the gambling industry in Great Britain, with notable growth in the remote gambling sector. This growth reflects a shift in consumer preferences towards online platforms, possibly accelerated by the pandemic and increasing digitization. Despite the decline in physical gambling premises, the sector’s contributions to good causes remain significant, highlighting its social impact alongside its economic contributions. As the industry adapts to new consumer behaviors and technological advancements, it continues to be a vital component of the British economy.
