Online gambling in Great Britain kept its upward pace in the first quarter of 2025. The UK Gambling Commission reported that digital slots were the main driver, while retail betting continued to shrink.
Good to know
- Online gambling revenue reached £1.45 billion ($1.93 billion), up 7% from Q1 2024.
- Slot machine revenue grew 11% to £689 million ($916 million).
- Retail betting saw a 3% decline in revenue to £554 million ($736 million).
Online slots led the growth, pulling in £689 million in gross gambling yield (GGY). That figure marks an 11% jump from the same period in 2024. The number of spins climbed to 23.4 billion, up 6%, and the average monthly active accounts on slot games hit 4.5 million. That was the highest recorded to date, representing a 6% year-on-year increase.
The Gambling Commission clarified that some past slot data has been updated, as certain games were reclassified from the general casino category into slots. The result is a clearer picture of how much this vertical now dominates the online space.
Slot Sessions Are Lasting Longer
Extended sessions are becoming more common. The number of online slot sessions that lasted more than one hour rose 5% to 10.1 million. However, these longer sessions still made up just 6% of all sessions. On average, players spent 17 minutes per session—unchanged from earlier reports.
Other online betting categories also grew. Real event betting saw GGY rise 5% to £596 million ($792 million), even though both the number of bets and active accounts fell slightly—down 1% and 2% respectively.
In contrast, retail betting continued to decline. Licensed Betting Offices brought in £554 million ($736 million) in Q1, a 3% dip from last year. Total bets and spins across these retail sites fell 5% to 3.1 billion.
The Commission stated that these numbers come directly from operators and may not reflect total market performance. Broader industry data often includes promotional activity, such as free bets and bonuses, which are not part of this reporting.
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