Statistics and research release
Industry Statistics - May 2020
The latest statistics cover the period between October 2018 – September 2019. Please note that the data covered in these industry statistics does not include the Covid-19 period.
Summary
Also published recently
Gambling Industry Statistics are published twice a year (in May and November) and provide the latest information on each sector regulated by the Gambling Commission.
The latest statistics cover the period between October 2018 – September 2019. Please note that the data covered in these Industry Statistics does not include the Covid-19 period.
Key facts
£14.3 billion Total gross gambling yield (GGY) of the gambling industry in Great Britain (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (0.5% decrease from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£10.5 billion Total gross gambling yield (GGY) of the gambling industry in Great Britain (excluding lotteries) (Oct 2018 - Sept 2019) (1.9% decrease from Apr 2018 - Mar 2019).
98,174 Total number of employees in the gambling industry in Great Britain (Sept 2019) (4.4% decrease from Mar 2019).
9,745 Total number of premises in Great Britain (Sept 2019) (9.6% decrease from Mar 2019).
7,315 Total number of betting shops in Great Britain (September 2019) (12.1% decrease from March 2019).
£2.5 billion Total GGY for gaming machines in Great Britain (Oct 2018 - Sept 2019) (11.8% decrease from April 2018 - March 2019) (excludes those requiring only a local authority permit).
£624 million Total GGY for category B2 machines in Great Britain (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (46.4% decrease from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£1.3 billion Total GGY for category B3 machines in Great Britain (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (18.5% increase from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£2.1 billion Total GGY for remote betting (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (4.3% increase from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£198 million Total GGY for remote bingo (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (12.5% increase from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£3.2 billion Total GGY for remote casino (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (3.9% increase from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£1.1 billion Total GGY for land-based casinos in Great Britain (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (0.6% decrease from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£1.6 billion Contributions (to good causes) from The National Lottery (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (6.5% increase from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
£345 million Contributions to good causes from large society lotteries (Oct 2018 – Sept 2019) (3.7% increase from Apr 2018 – Mar 2019).
Details
Total GGY for the industry was £14.3 billion in the year October 2018 to September 2019. This represents a marginal decrease of £69.0 million (0.5%) on the previous reporting period.
Remote (or online) gambling is the largest combined sector by GGY. With £5.5 billion GGY, it comprises 38.6% of the overall market. Remote sector GGY increased by £229.3 million(4.3%). Online casino games dominate the sector, generating £3.2 billion in GGY, mostly from slots games. GGY for remote betting totalled £2.1 billion, led by football and horse betting. Remote bingo grew 12.5% to £198.1 million.
National Lottery ticket sales increased by £281.0 million to £7.5 billion. This supported a GGY equivalent increase of £105.3m (3.4%), to £3.2 billion, making the National Lottery the second largest sector by GGY. Over the same period, the primary contribution to good causes increased by £96.0 million (6.5%) to £1.6 billion.
Non-remote betting GGY was the third largest sector by GGY with £2.8 billion (-13.8%). GGY for off-course and pool betting decreased, while on-course activities increased marginally. Within off-course data, machines GGY decreased by £361.2 million(19.8%) (see Machines section below). Machines represented 52.1% of total betting GGY. Total numbers of betting premises have continued to decline for the sixth consecutive reporting period to 7,315 (-12.1%). The non-remote casino sector saw a decrease of £6.1m (-0.6%) in GGY, to £1.1 billion. This was caused by a decrease in GGY from casino games of £9.5 million (-1.1%). GGY from casino-based machines increased by £3.4 million (1.6%).
Non-remote bingo GGY decreased slightly to £669.0 million (-0.6%), continuing a steady decline.
Lotteries (excluding the National Lottery and small society lotteries), saw a GGY equivalent increase to £572.5 million (5.7%), with balance to good causes at £344.7 million, a £12.4 million (3.7%) increase from the last reporting period. This is the highest contribution figure reported to date.
In the arcades sector, adult gaming centres showed a slight increase of £22.6 million (5.8%) in GGY, reporting £409.0m. GGY for licensed family entertainment centres also increased (6.4%), reporting £52.7 million. Note that this data does not include family entertainment centres which operate using a permit from a local authority.
Machines GGY over the year to September 2019 increased in all sectors except betting. This increase was across all machine categories, except B2 and C. Across all sectors, GGY from Category B2 machines decreased by £541.2 million to £624.2 million (46.4%). B3 is now the highest machine category for GGY, increasing by £202.9 million (18.5%) to £1.3 billion.
Note that a change in regulations reducing maximum stakes from £100 to £2 for Category B2 machines took effect in April 2019. This publication includes the first six months of data submitted since the change of regulations.
The number of licensed activities has decreased to 3,641 (-0.4%). These licences are held by 2,652 operators (-1.3%).
The overall number of licensed gambling premises in Great Britain has fallen by 1,036 to 9,745 (-9.6%). The majority of these were betting premises which declined by 1,005 (-12.1%)
Notes
This publication is primarily for anyone who has an involvement or interest in the gambling industry including government, licensed operators, trade bodies, international regulators, journalists, academic researchers, financial institutions, statisticians, consumers and local authorities.
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