UK Gambling Statistics 2023
* This article and the statistics were updated in October, 2024
As a major player in the global gambling industry, the UK continues to lead the way in 2023, both in terms of innovation and regulation.
At Xace, we’ve been monitoring the evolution of online gaming in the UK for several years now. The latest statistics follow a trend we saw in 2022: the British iGaming sector is going from strength to strength.
Major regulatory updates for 2023
Perhaps the biggest change in UK iGaming in 2023 was the introduction of a major new reform to gambling laws, which came into effect in April. The rules aimed to protect vulnerable gamers in the smartphone era.
This is surely a welcome piece of legislation. Today, 43% of Brits (~£29 million people) gamble monthly, and the vast majority experience no trouble. Nonetheless, around 300,000 people are believed to be problem gamblers. To tackle this issue, the new laws will set stake limits, introduce alevy on operators to support gambling addiction treatment, and set up a gambling ombudsman (among other measures). You can read more about the new legislation here.
Perhaps the biggest change in UK iGaming in 2023 was the publication of a comprehensive reform proposal in April. The white paper, titled ‘High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age’ was not a new law per se but did outline proposed reforms that would update regulations for the digital era.
The key proposals include introducing stake limits for online slots (£2-£15 per spin), implementing frictionless player protection checks, establishing a statutory levy on gambling operators to fund research and treatment, granting additional powers to the Gambling Commission to tackle illegal gambling, and creating new rules to prevent harmful bonus offers. These measures aimed to modernise gambling regulations for the digital age and protect vulnerable gamers in the smartphone era.
This proposal was largely welcome, as reports showed that 43% of Brits (~£29 million people) gamble monthly, and the vast majority experience no trouble. However, around 300,000 people are believed to be problem gamblers.
UK online gambling statistics in 2023
This summary of online UK gambling statistics for 2023 will give you an up-to-date assessment of remote gaming in the country.
How big is the UK online gaming market in 2023?
As with previous years, online betting and gambling represent the largest combined sector for gross gambling yield (GGY) in the UK’s gambling market.
According to the most recent data, the remote casino, betting, and bingo sector generated a total GGY of £6.5 billion from April 2022 to March 2023. This marks a 2.8% increase from the previous year and a significant 13.3% rise compared to the last pre-lockdown period of April 2019 to March 2020. Despite the end of lockdowns allowing people to once again visit betting shops or gamble at casinos in person, online gambling continues to show strong growth. In comparison, traditional land-based gambling venues generated £4.5 billion in GGY, while gaming machines in non-remote settings contributed an additional £2.4 billion. Despite these substantial figures from physical locations, the £6.5 billion GGY from online gambling clearly demonstrates the sector's continued dominance in the UK gambling market.
Casino games dominate revenue in the online gaming sector, taking £3.91 billion in GGY for the year ending March 2023, of which £3.03 billion came from slot games. Remote sportsbooks also hold significant market share in the UK, taking a total of £2.46 billion GGY in the same period.
While these figures represent a slight decrease from the peak pandemic era, the overall trend remains strong. The total GGY for the remote betting, bingo, and casino sector reached £6.54 billion, marking a 2.8% increase from the previous year and a substantial 13.3% rise compared to the pre-pandemic period of April 2019 to March 2020.
The number of licensed gambling operators continues to decline, reflecting ongoing market consolidation. As of March 2023, there were 2,285 licensed operators in Great Britain, down from 2,439 in March 2022 and 2,689 in March 2021. This trend suggests a maturing market with larger operators potentially absorbing smaller ones.
The impact of reopening after the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person gaming and betting were severely curtailed, leading to a significant shift towards remote gaming. As we reported previously, online casino participation jumped 22.5% in 2021, while remote betting grew by 13.5%.
As restrictions eased, the question arose: Would the surge in online gambling be temporary, with people returning to their pre-pandemic habits of in-person gaming?
The figures below reveal a nuanced picture. While in-person gaming has partially recovered, the online sector remains dominant.
Recent data from the Gambling Commission provides insights into this transition:
The total GGY for the British remote sector in 2021-2022 reached £6.4 billion, marking a 12.4% increase from the pre-pandemic period (2019-2020). Furthermore, the latest statistics show that approximately 26.9% of adults participated in online gambling in the year to December 2022, compared to 27.5% for in-person gambling. This near-parity demonstrates the sustained strength of the online sector.
The data suggests that while some gamblers have returned to in-person betting, a significant portion of those who transitioned to online platforms during the pandemic have maintained their new habits. The online gambling sector's resilience is further evidenced by the continued growth in overall participation, with 44.4% of adults engaging in some form of gambling in the past four weeks as of December 2022
Jobs in UK online gambling
It’s a great time to work in the online gambling industry in the UK. Projections indicate that we will reach 120,000 employees in the industry this year, an 8% increase on 2022’s figures.
And these jobs are well compensated. According to TotalJobs, average online gaming industry salaries in 2023 are £57,500—almost double the UK mean full-time wage (£31,285). Even ‘lower’ paid jobs in the online gaming sector still pay a handsome £45,000.
UK Gambling participation rates in 2023 and 2024 According to official statistics published in September 2024 by the UK Gambling Commission, gambling participation rates in the country have seen a notable increase. As of late 2024, approximately 48% of adults in the UK reported engaging in gambling activities in the 4-week period prior to the publication of the report. According to Gambling Commission statistics from 2023, 43% of the UK population participates in gambling every month, and 26% of people take part in online gambling. This is part of a clear upward trend—online gambling participation stood at 19% in 2018.
Data also shows there are 32 million online gaming accounts in the country. So, if 26% of the UK population gambles online, that means there are about 17.5 million iGamers (the total population is 67 million). This suggests that many people have accounts with more than one iGaming website.
Online gaming is popular across all age groups in the UK. However, this form of entertainment is most popular in the 45–54-year-old age bracket (35% gamble online), followed by 35–44-year-olds (31% gamble online). Online gaming is more popular among men in the UK (29% gamble online), but 24% of women also partake.
Recent trends in Lottery and Machine Games Duty
The 48% participation figure reported in September 2024 includes participation in the National Lottery. When excluding those who only played National Lottery draws (21%), the overall gambling participation rate stands at 27% of adults. Additionally, statistics show a similar trend with online gambling participation rates. In the past four weeks, 38% of the British population participated in online gambling, but when excluding only those who played online lottery games (22%), the participation rate falls to 16%.
The statistics demonstrate that the National Lottery and other online lotteries are by far the most popular form of online gaming in the UK; 16% gamble this way. This is followed by sports betting (4% of Brits), followed by horse races, football pools, bingo, and casino games.
The UK government's latest statistics on betting and gaming reveal interesting trends in Lottery Duty and Machine Games Duty (MGD) receipts:
Lottery Duty Receipts
Machine Games Duty (MGD) Receipts
It's worth noting that these trends have emerged following a period of volatility during the coronavirus pandemic, which significantly impacted gambling venues and consumer behaviour.
How much does the average UK online gambler spend?
The average UK online gambler spends £2.60 per week or £135.20 annually (that’s 3 pence more per week than the previous year).
Financial risks of gambling in the UK
Recent studies have highlighted significant financial risks associated with gambling in the UK, particularly regarding debt accumulation. The 2022-2023 report by the National Gambling Treatment Service stated that 64% of people who had gambled reported having a debt due to their gambling. Gambling caused 25% of people to experience a relationship loss and 11% to experience a job loss. The Gambling Commission's statistics for 2023 revealed that 27% of gamblers had spent more than they could afford to lose in the past year. This suggests that a significant portion of gamblers are engaging in financially risky behavior.
In 2022, the average debt for individuals seeking help for gambling addiction was approximately £36,000. This figure illustrates the severe financial impact that problem gambling can have on individuals. The Gambling Commission reported that in the year to March 2023, 2.5% of adults in Great Britain were classified as low-risk gamblers, 0.9% as moderate-risk gamblers, and 0.3% as problem gamblers. While these percentages may seem small, they represent a significant number of individuals at risk of financial difficulties.
These statistics raise ongoing concerns about the financial risks of gambling in the UK. They highlight the need for ongoing responsible gambling initiatives, support services, and public awareness campaigns to reduce gambling-related debt and financial difficulties.
Why do young people gamble?
- Because it’s fun (78%)
- I have a good chance of winning something (36%)
- It gives me something to do (35%)
- The games are simple to play (34%)
- To try to win money (32%)
British gamblers are increasingly savvy when it comes to digital payments when they bet or gamble. Research reveals that 66% of people gamble using debit cards or eWallets.
What are the most popular sports for betting in the UK?
The UK sports betting market remains one of the largest and most diverse in Europe. Recent data from Statista highlights the following trends in sports betting preferences:
Football continues to dominate the sports betting landscape. The annual turnover of off-course soccer betting in Great Britain reached £1.34 billion in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, demonstrating its enduring popularity. According to Play Today, approximately 45% of the UK gambling population regularly bets on football matches, and 37% participate in horse racing betting.
Despite a gradual decline over the past decade, horse racing remains a significant player in the UK betting market. The annual turnover of off-course horse race betting amounted to slightly more than £3.05 million between April 2021 and March 2022. Covid impacted the market substantially, resulting in a turnover of just £1.61 billion in the same period for 2020–2021, but since recovering, turnover has been on the increase, surpassing £3.33 million in between April 2022 and March 2023.
While not as popular as football or horse racing, dog racing still attracts a substantial betting audience. The annual turnover of off-course dog race betting in Great Britain was approximately £740 million in the 2021-2022 period. In comparison, football betting generated £640 million in revenue during 2020-2021, however, this was a notable 48.39% decrease from the previous year.
Overall, the UK online sports betting market was valued at $4.21 billion in 2023, amounting to about a 10% increase from the previous year.
UK online gambling and betting industry stays strong
Although there has been a slight decline in online gaming participation in the past year, this was largely to be expected—the increase in iGaming during the pandemic would have been very hard to sustain. Nevertheless, the demand for this kind of entertainment remains sky high, and the overall trend suggests online sportsbooks and online casinos have a bright future.
If you are looking to set up an online casino or sportsbook in the UK in 2024, you’ll need a way to accept customer payments. And this is where Xace helps.
We are a London and Malta-based payment institution, and we provide specialised digital accounts for online gaming firms. Our iGaming business accounts are specialised to the needs of online gaming businesses, and they allow you to receive and send funds to and from eWallets and gaming payment processors, manage your accounts, use virtual debit cards, benefit from UK faster payments, and much more.
After you’ve applied for your UK iGaming license, contact Xace to open an iGaming business account and begin receiving and making payments. Learn more about our online payment accounts here.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as financial, legal, or any other advice. This article was originally published in May 2023. It has been most recently updated in October 2024. To the best of our knowledge, the statistics reported here were accurate at the time of publishing.
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