LONDON — The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published its Q1 2025–26 report, covering industry performance from March to June 2025. The data reveals a mixed picture: while sports betting declined, growth in online slots and other verticals helped sustain overall momentum in Britain’s regulated gaming sector.
Q1 2025–26 Gross Gaming Yield (GGY) Overview
| Vertical | GGY (Q1 2025–26) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Total Online GGY | £1.49 billion | ↑ 2% |
| Real Event Betting | £570 million | ↓ 9% |
| Online Slots | £745 million | ↑ 14% |
| Betting Premises | £552 million | ↓ 5% |
- Online bets and spins: ↑ 6% YoY to 26.1 billion
- Monthly active accounts: ↓ 10% YoY to 12.7 million
Online Slots Performance Hits New Highs
- Total spins: ↑ 8% YoY
- Monthly active accounts: Stable at 4.4 million
- GGY & spin volume: Reached record highs
The UKGC also reported a 9% drop in slots sessions lasting over an hour, down to 8.8 million—now just 5% of all sessions, compared to 6% last year. The average session length fell by 1 minute, settling at 16 minutes.
The Commission noted that several operators refined their session tracking methodologies, contributing to the shift in reported durations.
New Slot Stake Limits Introduced
As of May 21, 2025, the UKGC implemented maximum stake limits for online slots:
- £2 per spin for players aged 18–24
- £5 per spin for players aged 25+
This regulatory change is part of broader efforts to enhance player protection and responsible gaming standards.
Sports Betting & Retail Declines
- Real event betting: ↓ 9% due to a 7% drop in total bets and 16% decline in active accounts
- Betting premises GGY: ↓ 5% YoY to £552 million, driven by a 3% reduction in bets and spins (3.2 billion total)
