Gambling is a favourite pastime among many people in the UK, and the market is increasing every year. In this article, we will highlight some of the key statistics on gambling in the UK.
Gambling in the UK: the numbers
It is no doubt that online gambling is a growing industry in the United Kingdom. According to the latest statistics by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the total gambling market was worth £14.3 billion between October 2018 and September 2019. The statistic shows that online gambling holds the largest share of the market, accounting for 38.60% of the overall sector.
Online casino games such as slots and table games comprise a large part of the Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) for the year, but other types of gambling increased as well. Online betting, led by football and horse betting, totalled £2.1 billion for the year. Online bingo grew 12.5% to a total of £198.1 million.
In recent years, the UK Gambling Commission has introduced new regulations and measures to combat gambling addiction in the United Kingdom. In April 2020, a ban on credit cards to protect players at risk was implemented on all UKGC licensed gambling sites. Research has shown that 800,000 online gamblers in the UK used a credit card for gambling in 2018, and 22% of these consumers are problem gamblers.
Casino games and betting statistics
Online casino games are by far the most popular form of gambling in the UK. The same study by the UKGC shows that online slots accounted for 69.3% of the total GGY between October 2018 and September 2019. Roulette was the second most played game with 13.5%, and blackjack accounted for 6.1% of the total revenue. Slots and table games are the most common games at TeleVega casino, where gamblers play modern video slots from a wide range of game providers, as well as live casino games with real dealers. When it comes to betting on sports, the five most popular sports among bettors were horse racing, football, boxing, tennis and golf.
According to the statistics portal Statista, people in the age group of 25 – 34 years are most active at online casinos. 23.1% of people in this age group gamble online on a monthly basis. 22.7% of people in the age group of 55 – 64 gamble, and the percentage is 22% for people between the age of 35 – 54. The same Statista survey shows that social media and television are the most used platforms for casinos to reach their core audience.
Despite stricter regulations and new rules by the UKGC, the online gambling industry in the UK is growing. The commission currently oversees 3,641 gambling licenses held by 2,652 gaming operators. Although this is a small decrease from previous periods, new companies are seeking to offer their gambling products in the UK market.
