UK gambling market shows mixed trends in latest data
The UK Gambling Commission has released updated operator data covering gambling activity between March 2020 and December 2025. The dataset provides insight into both online and in-person gambling across Great Britain, including activity from betting premises on high streets.
The figures compare the third quarter of the 2025–2026 financial year with the same period in 2024-2025. Importantly, the Commission notes that this dataset should not be compared directly with broader industry statistics. It includes free bets and bonuses and does not capture data from every operator.
Online Gambling Revenue Softens Despite Higher Activity
Online total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) for October to December reached £1.5 billion. This represents a 2 percent decrease year-on-year. However, betting activity increased during the same period.
The number of total bets and spins raised by 6 percent to 27.4 billion. At the same time, average monthly active accounts declined slightly by 2 percent to 12.7 million. This suggests higher engagement among existing users rather than broad growth in participation.
Real Event Betting Declines
Real event betting recorded a sharper contraction. GGY fell 18 percent year-on-year to £530 million. Meanwhile, the total number of bets dropped by 6 percent. Average monthly active accounts declined by 7 percent.
These figures point to softer consumer spending within traditional betting markets during the quarter.
Online Slots Continue to Grow
In contrast, online slots delivered strong growth. Slots GGY increased by 10 percent to £788 million. The number of spins raised 7 percent to 25.7 billion. Average monthly active accounts climbed 5 percent to 4.6 million.
Both GGY and spin volumes reached record highs for the third consecutive quarter in this dataset. Despite tighter stake limits introduced earlier in 2025, engagement within the slots segment remains elevated.
However, session duration shows a different pattern. The number of online slots sessions lasting more than one hour fell 16 percent year-on-year to 8.9 million. The average session length shortened by two minutes to 16 minutes. Only 4.4 percent of sessions exceeded one hour, compared with 6.2 percent a year earlier.
The Commission noted that some operators refined their session measurement methods during the year. Therefore, year-on-year comparisons should be interpreted cautiously.
Betting Premises See Modest Decline
GGY from land-based betting premises decreased 7 percent to £549 million. Total bets and spins fell 1 percent to 3.1 billion. While the drop is smaller than online real event betting, it signals continued pressure on retail gambling environments.
Regulatory Context
This quarter is the third reporting period since new limits on maximum stakes for online slots came into effect. A £5 maximum stake for adults was brought into action in April 2025, while a £2 cap followed in May 2025 for players aged between 18 and 24 years.
It is policy changes like these that aim to reduce gambling harm while preserving consumer choice. The Commission will, of course, continue to monitor behaviour both during and after the bedding-in period as operators adjust to the new framework.
Looking Ahead
The data presents a mixed picture whereby overall online revenue has softened slightly, but the engagement metrics remain at high levels; further slot expansion, but contraction in real event betting and retail premises.
The Gambling Commission advises that stakeholders refer to the full dataset for the latest figures. Continuing insights will prove indispensable when regulatory reforms start to reshape market behaviour.
Note: We encourage you to always refer to the most recent excel data document which contains updated data for the entire period. This can be found on Gambling business data on gambling to December 2025 (published February 2026)
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