Unprecedented surge in gaming revenues in Great Britain

The UK Gambling Commission (GC) has published the latest industry statistics covering the period between April 2022 to March 2023 revealing an unprecedented total gross gaming yield (GGY) of ￡15.1 billion during the period. This reflects a notable 6.8% increase in gaming revenues in GB compared to the previous year (April 2021 to March 2022) and a substantial 6.6% rise compared to the last pre-lockdown period from April 2019 to March 2020. These figures underscore a steady growth trend in the industry, signaling resilience and recovery from the impact of lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Remote gaming reaches new heights

The Remote Casino, Betting, and Bingo (RCBB) sectors in Great Britain (GB) have experienced an unparalleled surge in gross gaming yield (GGY), reaching an astonishing ￡6.5 billion. The detailed breakdown reveals the dominance of online casino games, particularly slots, while remote betting on football and horse racing, as well as remote bingo, also contributed significantly to this record-breaking figure.

Growth in online casino games

Online casino games emerged as the powerhouse behind the remote gaming surge, generating an impressive ￡4.0 billion in GGY. Within this category, slots games led the way with a staggering ￡3.2 billion. The reporting period also witnessed a substantial increase in new account registrations, up by 10.6% to 36.4 million, marking a 21.8% surge compared to the latest pre-lockdown period. The total funds held in customer accounts reached ￡877.5 million, showcasing a 26.7% increase from the last pre-lockdown period.

Non-remote sectors display strong growth

While the non-remote betting GGY reached ￡2.5 billion, indicating a 15.4% increase from the previous period, the number of betting premises continued to decline for the ninth consecutive reporting period, totaling 5,995. Within non-remote sectors, the casino, bingo, and arcades segments experienced noteworthy growth. The non-remote casino sector saw a 17.2% increase in GGY, reaching ￡810.4 million, while non-remote bingo and arcades reported growth of 34.0% (￡591.8 million) and 38.9% (￡572.2 million), respectively.

Lotteries remain steady amidst gaming surge

Despite the unprecedented surge in gaming revenues in GB, lotteries maintained a steady performance. The National Lottery ticket sales reached ￡8.2 billion, with contributions to good causes totaling ￡1.7 billion. Large society lotteries also saw increases, with ticket sales totaling ￡943.9 million and a primary contribution to good causes reaching ￡421.7 million. As the gaming landscape evolves, regulators and stakeholders will undoubtedly be closely monitoring these trends and their implications for the industry and society at large.

View the Gaming Industry Statistics November 2023 interactive dashboard here.

Join SiGMA Eurasia in Dubai between the 25 and 27 February 2024

The fourth edition of SiGMA Eurasia will once again be held at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, providing invaluable opportunities for attendees to network with industry professionals, gain exposure to the latest tech and innovations in the sector, meet key decision makers, and gain insight into new markets. Find all the details here.