Great Britain online GGY up 21% in Q4, record customer activity

The online gross gambling yield (GGY) in Great Britain witnessed a significant year-on-year increase of 21% during the fourth quarter of 2024, totaling £1.54 billion (€1.85 billion/$1.92 billion). This surge coincided with a record-breaking number of bets and spins across the market.

According to data released by the Great Britain Gambling Commission on February 6, 2024, the statistics encompass the three-month period leading to December 31, 2024. While the primary focus is on online gambling, the report also highlights GGY and activities within the land-based betting sector.

The Q4 GGY figure exceeds the previous year’s total of £1.30 billion for the same quarter and marks a striking 16.7% increase from the £1.32 billion reported in Q3 of the prior year.

In an impressive showing, total online bets and spins increased by 8% year-on-year, reaching an unprecedented 25.9 billion. However, there was a slight decline of 3% in average monthly active player accounts during this quarter.

Record Growth in Slots: GGY Hits £709 Million

Online slots continue to be the cornerstone of the UK’s gambling revenue. In Q4, GGY from online slots reached £709 million, reflecting a 15% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, total spins surged by 9%, resulting in 23.9 billion spins, while the average monthly active accounts increased by an impressive 10%.

This quarter marked record highs for both GGY and the volume of spins in the online slots category. It is important to note that the Gambling Commission has indicated that one operator classified some of its offerings into the slots vertical during Q4, which affects year-on-year comparisons.

When examining player engagement, the average session length for online slots in Q4 rose slightly to approximately 18 minutes, while sessions extending beyond one hour fell to 6%, down from 7% in the previous year’s Q4.

Real Event Betting Sees GGY Jump by 38%

In another positive trend, real event betting emerged as the next leading source of GGY, generating £647 million—an increase of 38% compared to the previous year and marking the highest quarterly total since Q2 of 2021. Notably, this growth occurred even with a 7% decrease in the number of bets placed on real events and a 3% decline in average monthly active accounts.

Additionally, GGY from other gaming categories, excluding slots, saw a modest rise of 2%, totaling £151.9 million in Q4. Conversely, online poker GGY declined by 19%, amounting to £12.7 million. Virtual betting GGY also faced challenges, falling 14% to £9.5 million, while esports betting revenue dropped by 12% to £3.7 million. Interestingly, GGY from other online gambling activities (details undisclosed) rose by 58%, reaching £1.9 million.

Land-Based Betting Operators: Performance Insights

The Commission also provided insights into the land-based sector, focusing on licensed betting operators (LBOs). GGY from LBOs increased by 5%, totaling £592 million despite a 4% decrease in the total number of bets and spins, which reached 3.1 billion.

Within the LBO sector, £279.7 million was generated from gaming machines, £159.8 million from over-the-counter activities, and £152.6 million from self-service betting terminals. The total number of machine sessions in Q4 fell by 4% to 22.8 million; however, sessions lasting more than one hour increased by 6% to 621,772.

Overall, these trends indicate the ongoing evolution of the gambling industry, characterized by robust online growth and dynamic engagement in both virtual and land-based environments. As operators navigate this ever-changing landscape, they must remain agile and responsive to shifting consumer preferences and regulatory changes to sustain their growth trajectories.