Report
Annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025
The Gambling Commission's 2024 to 2025 annual report and accounts. For the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Contents
- Foreword
- Performance report
- Accountability report
- Financial statements
- Notes on the accounts
-
- Statement of accounting policies
- Statement of operating costs by operating segment
- Expenditure
- Income cash receipts
- Property, plant and equipment
- Right of use assets
- Intangible assets
- Financial instruments
- Cash and cash equivalents
- Trade and other receivables
- Trade and other payables
- Provisions and charges
- Retirement benefit obligations
- Lease liabilities
- Contingent liabilities disclosed under IAS 37
- Related party transactions
- Amounts of income to the Consolidated Fund
- Events after the reporting period
- Appendices
Expenditure
During the year, total operating expenditure including depreciation was £60.31 million (2023 to 2024, £40.41 million), an increase of £19.90 million on the prior financial year (49 percent).
Total expenditure on gambling regulation totalled £31.89 million (2023 to 2024, £25.54 million1). National Lottery functions accounted for £28.42 million (2023 to 2024 £14.87m1). This included £24.67 million on the National Lottery Fourth Licence competition (2023 to 2024, £11.99 million). This increase was in relation to costs related to the legal challenge to the outcome of the 4NL competition decision.
For comparative purposes, the following table shows the year-on-year comparison for gambling and National Lottery regulation expenditure.
Year-on-year operational expenditure for gambling and National Lottery regulation
| 2024 to 2025 (£ million) | 2023 to 2024 (£ million2) | 2022 to 2023 (£ million) | 2021 to 2022 (£ million) | 2020 to 2021 (£ million) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Lottery regulation | 3.75 | 2.88 | 2.43 | 2.60 | 2.76 |
| National Lottery competition | 24.67 | 11.99 | 19.15 | 23.66 | 14.84 |
| Gambling regulation | 31.89 | 25.54 | 19.33 | 20.07 | 20.57 |
| Total costs of operation | 60.31 | 40.41 | 40.91 | 46.33 | 38.17 |
Employee costs for the year were £27.82 million (2023 to 2024, £24 million 3), an increase of £3.82 million. Employee costs for gambling regulation were £23.70 million (2023 to 2024, £19.15 million3) and National Lottery regulation £4.12 million (2023 to 2024, £4.85 million3). The new National Lottery regulation team is smaller due to the compliance approach to the 4th license regulation. Of this, £1.15 million related to the 4th National Lottery Licence competition (2023 to 2024, £2.33 million3).
Non-pay expenditure for Legal costs had the most significant increase in costs between years. Legal costs totalled £14.2 million, which includes legal costs of £13.35 million related to ongoing litigation costs for the National Lottery Competition (2023 to 2024, £0.35 million). These costs relate to expenditure on legal services, including lawyer fees and other expenses. See Note 15 Contingent Liabilities for further information on the litigation. The figures for 2023 to 2024 are net of costs recovered in earlier successful litigation, the gross costs for the year were £4.83 million.
References
1 A late change was made to the prior year accounts to reclassify other income relating to contributions to costs (£4.83m). This income, previously reported under "Other Income," has been reclassified and presented net of expenditure. The prior year comparatives have been updated accordingly to ensure consistency and clarity in financial reporting.
2 See Note 2a: Segmental Analysis – Reclassification of Prior Year Figures. Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2024 have been restated to correct the allocation of certain intra-group costs between operating segments. These adjustments ensure a more accurate reflection of the performance of each segment. The restatement has no impact on the Group’s total revenue, operating profit, or net assets as previously reported.
3 See Note 3(a) Wages and salaries include agency costs of £1.24 million (2023–24 £0.57 million) and apprenticeship levy costs of £0.08 million (2023–24 £0.07 million). These costs were previously classified under other expenditure. Prior year figures have been reclassified to conform with the current year’s presentation. This reclassification aligns with the requirements of the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).
Last updated: 15 October 2025
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