Fresh insights from the UK Gambling Commission show notable shifts in gambling behaviour across both digital and retail platforms for the first quarter of the 2025–2026 financial year. Covering data from April to June 2025, the report compares the same period from the previous year and highlights the early effects of new stake restrictions on online slots.
As of 9 April 2025, a maximum stake of £5 per spin was enforced for adults playing online slots, with a lower £2 cap introduced for 18 to 24-year-olds from 21 May 2025. These changes are part of the Commission's wider efforts to enhance player protection and promote safer gambling.
Online Gambling Sees Revenue Growth Despite Fewer Users
Online gambling activity posted a modest increase, with Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) rising 2% year-on-year to £1.49 billion. This growth was primarily driven by online slots, which saw GGY rise 14% to £745 million—setting new records for both yield and the number of spins, which increased 8% to 24.4 billion.
Interestingly, while activity increased, the number of average monthly active accounts dropped 10% to 12.7 million. For online slots specifically, this figure remained consistent at 4.4 million. Despite heightened play volume, the average session length dipped slightly to 16 minutes, and long sessions over an hour declined by 9% to 8.8 million. Now, only 5% of sessions exceed one hour, down from 6% the previous year.
Real Event Betting Drops Without Major Tournaments
Real event betting online experienced a downturn, with GGY falling 9% to £570 million. The number of bets also declined by 7%, while active accounts for this segment dropped sharply by 16%. The absence of major international football tournaments—such as Euro 2024, which influenced the previous year’s figures—is likely a contributing factor.
Retail Gambling Slows as Bets and Revenue Decline
On the high street, betting shops saw a 5% drop in GGY to £552 million. The total number of bets and spins also fell by 3% to 3.2 billion. Within this segment, over-the-counter betting rose slightly by 1% to 145 million bets, although GGY for OTC betting decreased 12% to £148 million.
Self-service betting terminals (SSBTs) registered a 9% decline in bets placed and a 1% drop in GGY, while machines generated £281 million in GGY—down 3% year-on-year. The average machine session spend declined slightly to £12.19, with the number of spins per session also dropping marginally. Notably, 2.6% of machine sessions exceeded one hour, a slight uptick from the previous year’s 2.4%.
Safer Gambling Interventions on the Rise
The number of customer interactions rose sharply in Q1, jumping 53% year-on-year to 4.4 million. Most were automated, but direct operator interventions increased by 58%. This spike reflects improvements in operators’ harm detection systems, which are increasingly refined to identify risky behaviour.
Overall, the data illustrates how regulatory changes and industry-led safety measures are beginning to reshape player habits—especially in the online slots sector—while retail and betting activity face a more subdued outlook.
Source:
“Market overview - operator data to June 2025 (published August 2025)”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, August 14, 2025.
“Market impact data on gambling behaviour - operator data to June 2025”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, August 14, 2025.
Zlajdza
2 months ago
Moderator
Fewer players, but more spins and higher yield - clearly the casuals are dropping off while the core players keep driving growth. The real story here? Regulation is finally nudging habits, but it’s far from slowing the digital side down.
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