HomeInsightsGambling Commission publishes statistics that paint a picture of gambling in Great Britain.

The figures released by the Gambling Commission provide an up-to-date picture of the gambling industry in Great Britain, including almost a year’s worth of data from all operators offering online gambling.  These figures provide an update on the last set of industry statistics released by the Commission in November 2015 and are based on information provided to the Commission by licensed operators.

The Gambling Commission’s regular industry data reports sit alongside its research on consumer participation in gambling in Britain.  The next major consumer survey will be published later in July.

Headline findings reveal:

  • the Total Gross Gambling Yield for the gambling industry (October 2014 to September 2015) was £12.6 billion. This compares with £11.2 billion reported in the April 2014 to March 2015 industry statistics;
  • 29% (£3.6 billion) of the gambling market share is remote (online) betting, bingo and casino (October 2014 to September 2015). This remains steady, showing little change from the first five months’ worth of online data published in November 2015, following the introduction of a point of consumption regulatory regime for the online sector;
  • contributions to good causes from the National Lottery were £1.7 billion (October 2014 to September 2015). This was an increase of 2.1% from £1.67 billion during the period April 2014 to March 2015;
  • contributions to good causes from large society lotteries were £195 million. This was an increase of 3.9% between the April 2014 to March 2015 report and the October 2014 to September 2015 report;
  • the number of betting shops in March 2016 was 8,809. This was a decrease by 1.9% compared to 8,975 in March 2015;
  • the number of arcades in March 2016 was 1,721. This was a decrease of1% compared to 1,937 in March 2015;
  • the number of B2 machines in betting shops was 34,704, which was a decrease of 0.5%. A total of 34,894 was reported in the last industry statistics report (April 2014 to March 2015).  The GGY from these machines increased by 1.5% from £1.68 billion to £1.71 billion); and
  • the total number of bingo premises in March 2016 was 599, which was a decrease of 10.1% compared to March 2015, with an increase in bingo game GGY (October 2014 to September 2015) of 4.9%, the first increase since April 2011 to March 2012.

Programme director James Green said: “Today we are publishing clear authoritative data on the gambling industry in Great Britain.  For the first time the figures include almost a full year’s worth of data relating to online gambling operators – the market share of the online betting, bingo and casino sector is 29% and we’ll be interested to see how this varies over time.  Offline we’re seeing changes. For instance, there’s been a reduction in the number of betting shops, arcades and bingo halls in the last two years.  Market trends and consumer participation research is key to shaping the Commission’s regulatory policy to keep gambling in Britain safe for consumers, fair, and crime-free”.  To read the Commission’s press release and to access the statistics, click here.