Online gambling in Great Britain saw significant growth in the final quarter of 2024. However, this does not reflect the whole picture, given the number of gamblers who turn to offshore casino options. Many players explore alternative platforms, including casinos online not connected to Gamstop, as they seek different experiences and fewer restrictions. These sites forgo Gamstop rules, meaning they can accept a wider range of casino gamers.
The latest data from the Great Britain Gambling Commission shows that gross gambling yield (GGY) for online betting and gaming reached £1.54 billion, an increase of 21% from the same period in the previous year. Despite a 3% decline in active player accounts, the platform recorded an all-time high of 25.9 billion bets and spins.
The rise in online GGY was driven by multiple factors, including growth in slot games and real event betting. Slots alone generated £709 million, reflecting a 15% year-on-year increase. The number of spins reached 23.9 billion, up 9%. The significant increase could be partly explained by an operator’s reclassification of certain products as slots, which affects year-over-year comparisons. The average session length for slots in Q4 was 18 minutes, with 6% of sessions lasting over an hour, down slightly from the previous year.
Real event betting also played a major role in the overall increase, with GGY in this category rising to £647 million. The quarter saw a 38% year-over-year surge to reach the highest level since mid-2021, even as total bets on real events fell 7% and active player accounts decreased by 3%.
Other forms of online gaming experienced smaller fluctuations. Online casino games outside of slots saw a slight rise of 2%, reaching £151.9 million. In contrast, online poker declined by 19%, bringing in £12.7 million. Virtual betting also saw a downturn, with GGY slipping 14% to £9.5 million. Esports betting followed a similar trend, decreasing by 12% to £3.7 million. Online gambling revenue from other unspecified activities rose 58% to £1.9 million.
The online gambling sector continues to expand despite regulatory changes and discussions around responsible gaming measures. The steady rise in online gambling figures suggests a strong demand for digital gaming options, even as regulators introduce new policies to shape the market.
While online gambling showed significant gains, the land-based sector had a more modest performance. Licensed betting operators (LBOs) reported a GGY of £592 million for Q4, reflecting a 5% year-on-year increase. Of the total land-based gambling revenue, gaming machines generated the highest share at £279.7 million, while traditional over-the-counter betting and self-service betting terminals followed with £159.8 million and £152.6 million respectively.
Machine session data from LBOs showed mixed results. While the total number of sessions dropped by 4% to 22.8 million, the number of sessions lasting more than one hour increased by 6%, reaching 621,772. This suggests that while fewer people engaged with gaming machines, some players spent longer periods playing.
The data for Q4 confirms that online gambling remains the dominant force in the British betting market. Record-breaking spins and strong GGY figures highlight the ongoing shift toward digital platforms. The rise of online slots and real event betting, in particular, indicates that players continue to engage with these segments despite regulatory discussions surrounding gambling behaviors and potential restrictions. Future reports will likely shed more light on how the industry adapts to these evolving trends.