British Gambling Market Reports 7% Growth In Q1 2025
The UK Gambling Commission has reported a remarkable 7% growth in the British betting and gaming sector for the first quarter of 2025.
British Gambling Market Experiences Robust Growth: 7% Increase in Q1 2025
Data for the January to March period, which encompasses approximately 80% of licensed operators in the United Kingdom, reveals a striking 7% increase in online casino betting compared to the previous year.
The online gross gambling yield (GGY) surged from £1.3 billion to £1.45 billion, indicating significant growth in a market that faces considerable regulatory adjustments and increasing saturation.
Although this growth surpasses the figures from Q1 of 2024, it did not reach the £1.54 billion recorded in Q4 of 2024.
The Cheltenham Festival—one of the UK’s premier horse racing events—continues to be a major driver of traffic in early March. The unexpected results of many short-priced favorites further benefitted casinos during this period.
Betway’s Head of Global Communications and PR commented to ABC News: “This Cheltenham was certainly one for the books. It is uncommon to see so many highly favored horses defeated, leading to notable gains for us.”
Online Wagering Accelerates as Retail Betting Declines
In contrast, retail wagering experienced a 3% decline to £554 million, with spins decreasing by 5% to £3.1 billion. This shift underscores the growing preference for online sports betting apps, a trend likely to continue.
Real event betting saw a 5% increase, reaching £6.5 million. However, the total number of bets fell by 1%, and the average number of active monthly accounts also declined by 2%.
Online Slots Dominate: 47% of GGY in Q1 2025
Despite a decrease in spins, slots accounted for a substantial 47% of online GGY in Q1, yielding £689 million—an impressive 11% increase from the same timeframe last year.
Players are also dedicating more time to online slots, with sessions lasting over an hour rising by 5% to 10.1 million. The average duration per session remains at 17 minutes.
In Q4 of 2024, online slots demonstrated the most significant growth, with an 11% rise as spins climbed by 6% to £23.4 billion. Moreover, the average number of monthly active accounts during this period increased by 6% to reach an unprecedented 4.5 million.
In conclusion, the first quarter of 2025 showcases a dynamic and evolving landscape in the British gambling market. With significant increases in online betting and the ongoing competition between retail and digital platforms, stakeholders must remain agile and innovative to capitalize on these trends.
About the Author
Joe Lyons is a seasoned betting industry writer at GamblingIndustryNews, equipped with extensive experience across various reputable sports and gambling platforms. Joe has contributed to Nottingham Forest, collaborating with both the academy and senior teams to produce engaging matchday content. His prior experiences include serving as an on-site reporter covering the Premier League and EFL for Prost International during the 2020/21 season. Specializing in diverse sports such as soccer, basketball, horse racing, and American football, Joe excels in long-form content creation alongside delivering news, insights, and betting tips.
