UK Gambling Commission Reports Higher Q4 Gross Gambling Yield

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released operator data for the final quarter of the 2024–2025 fiscal year, showing continued growth in gross gambling yield (GGY) driven by a rise in active accounts and total wagers.

Q4 2024–2025 Operator Data Overview

The latest report, covering the three-month period ending March 31, includes insights from both online and land-based gambling operators.

Key findings from the UKGC data:

• Online gaming operators recorded a total GGY of £1.45 billion ($1.94 billion)—a 7% year-on-year increase.
• Total wagers and spins grew by 5% to 25.2 billion ($33.7 million).
• Average monthly active accounts rose by 2% to 13.5 million, though the UKGC cautioned that some users hold multiple accounts.

Sector-Specific Growth Trends

• In-person betting saw a 5% year-on-year increase, reaching £596 million ($769.3 million), despite a slight decline in total bets and active accounts (-1% and -2%, respectively).
• Slots GGY surged by 11% to £689 million ($920.5 million), fueled by a 6% increase in spins, reaching 23.4 billion.
• The number of online slot sessions exceeding one hour rose by 5% year-on-year to 10.1 million, though these sessions still comprised only 6% of total gameplay, with an average session length of 17 minutes.
• LBO (Licensed Betting Office) GGY fell 3% to £554 million ($740.1 million), with total bets and spins decreasing 5% to 3.1 billion.

Other UKGC Developments

• The commission is considering regulatory action against Allwyn UK, the National Lottery’s operator, after it failed to meet its promised tech modernization goals. Delays in upgrading the platform, exacerbated by third-party provider dependencies, have raised concerns.
• The UKGC confirmed that the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has dismissed Andrew “Andy” Jenkins, an English professional darts player, following allegations of match-fixing involving a dozen games.

The UKGC’s ongoing regulatory oversight underscores its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent gaming environment while addressing potential risks in the industry.