Key Moments:
- The UK gambling sector achieved a 7.3% increase in yield, reaching £16.8bn for the year ending 31 March 2025.
- Online gambling represented 46% of total market share, with remote casino, betting, and bingo generating £7.8bn.
- Land-based sector continued its long-term contraction, while lotteries contributed £4.2bn and increased good-cause funding by 4.5%.
Online Segment Powers Industry Expansion
Digital channels continued to propel the UK gambling market, as industry data from the Gambling Commission indicated further migration from traditional land-based venues to online platforms. Remote gambling activities accounted for nearly half of the overall sector yield, highlighting the growing reliance on digital operations for market growth.
In the twelve months ending 31 March 2025, gross gambling yield climbed to £16.8bn, up by 7.3% from the previous year. Remote casino, betting, and bingo generated £7.8bn, marking a 13.1% rise year-on-year. Within this segment, online casino activity produced £5bn, with online slots comprising £4.2bn of that total. Remote betting contributed £2.6bn.
Remote gambling captured 46% of the entire sector. The number of active accounts reported stood at 24.4 million, and new registrations decreased by 4.1%, totaling 34 million. Customer account balances declined by 6.9% to £1bn. These trends have been cited by policymakers advocating for regulatory reform, pointing to increasing digital engagement and spend.
Physical Gambling Venues Face Ongoing Challenges
The land-based sector continued to experience structural pressures, delivering £4.8bn in yield and securing 29% of market share. Betting shops managed a modest 0.7% growth to reach £2.5bn, even though the number of such locations fell for the eleventh consecutive year, now at 5,825 premises.
Casinos posted a 7.9% increase in gross gambling yield, totaling £933.8m. This included £702.4m from table and live games and £231.5m from gaming machines. Arcades achieved £723.3m, up 9%, with adult gaming centers driving performance. Bingo reported gross gambling yield of £650.4m, growing by 3.5%.
Overall, the number of licensed premises dropped by 1.1% to 8,234, while licensed operators fell 3.7% to 2,179.
Lottery Operations Maintain Significant Revenue and Good-Cause Contributions
Lottery activities remained a key market pillar, generating £4.2bn in revenue, or 25% of total gross gambling yield. National Lottery ticket sales amounted to £7.9bn, marking a 0.8% increase. Good-cause funding grew by 4.5% to reach £1.6bn. Large society lotteries reported £1.1bn in ticket sales and contributed £484.6m to good causes.
The lottery segment is set to continue as a core fiscal contributor, regardless of policy changes in the forthcoming Budget.
Fiscal Policy and Regulatory Focus Intensifies Ahead of Autumn Budget
Industry figures are at the center of renewed calls in Parliament for higher gambling taxes. Iain Duncan Smith and Meg Hillier pointed to the recent data as grounds for increased fiscal measures, asserting the need to address the digital expansion in gambling. The Autumn Budget, scheduled for 26 November, is expected to keep gambling duty high on the agenda.
The period also saw ongoing compliance activity, highlighted by the suspension of Deadheat Racing’s license on regulatory grounds.
Quarterly Reporting Enhances Market Transparency
The Gambling Commission has launched quarterly data releases under newly adopted regulatory rules. The opening dataset covering April to June 2025 found gross gambling yield at £3.3bn, with remote gaming accounting for £2bn – including £1.4bn from online casino – and land-based operations reporting £1.2bn.
This quarterly approach is intended to provide regulators and policymakers with more immediate insight into market movements as the legislative environment evolves.
| Segment | Yield / Sales | Change (%) | Share of Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Gambling Yield | £16.8bn | +7.3 | 100% |
| Remote Casino, Betting & Bingo | £7.8bn | +13.1 | 46% |
| Land-based Sector | £4.8bn | n/a | 29% |
| Lottery (Licensed Activity) | £4.2bn | n/a | 25% |
| National Lottery Ticket Sales | £7.9bn | +0.8 | n/a |
| Good Cause Returns (National Lottery) | £1.6bn | +4.5 | n/a |
| Large Society Lottery Ticket Sales | £1.1bn | n/a | n/a |
| Large Society Lottery Good Cause | £484.6m | n/a | n/a |
- Author
Daniel Williams
