Online Gambling Boom: UK Digital Betting Hits £1.45 Billion
Online gambling in Great Britain saw strong growth in early 2025, with digital platforms continuing to outpace traditional betting shops, according to the latest figures released by the UK Gambling Commission.
The data reveals a striking contrast between digital and physical gambling sectors, with online gross gambling yield (GGY) climbing 7% year-on-year to £1.45 billion in the three months to March 2025. Meanwhile, in-person gambling at high street betting shops continues its downward trend.
Digital Growth Driven by Online Slots
The surge in online gambling comes despite increasingly strict regulations on UK-licensed platforms. Players face mandatory spending limits, extended verification processes, and automatic cooling-off periods on regular betting sites. On not on Gamstop UK slots these restrictions don't apply, and players have more flexibility and fewer interruptions. Since Gamstop became mandatory for all UKGC-licensed operators in 2020, international sites operating outside the scheme have seen substantial growth in British players.
Regulatory figures show that online slots led the way in the digital gambling sector, with gross gambling yield (GGY) climbing by 11% to £689 million. The number of spins also went up by 6%, hitting 23.4 billion. Meanwhile, the average monthly count of active accounts hit a record high of 4.5 million, up 6% compared to the same time last year.
The Commission noted that some historical data had been revised to account for game reclassification from casino to slot categories, potentially affecting year-on-year comparisons.
Extended Play Sessions Increasing
The report also made a reference to an interesting change in that online slots sessions that went over one hour, increased by 5% in the quarter and aggregated to 10.1 million. However, the proportion of sessions lasting over one hour remained at 6%, which means that the increase is associated with an extension of overall play rather than deterioration in gambling routines.
The average session length remained unchanged at 17 minutes, offering some reassurance that most players continue to gamble responsibly despite the growing popularity of online slots.
Real Event Betting Shows Mixed Results
Real event betting—covering sports and other live events—showed more modest but still significant growth compared to other gambling sectors. While revenue increased steadily, the total number of bets placed and active betting accounts saw slight declines during the quarter.
This means that while fewer people are placing sports bets, those who continue are wagering larger amounts, or operators are securing better margins on the bets placed. Either way, the sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience.
High Street Betting Continues Decline
As online gambling continues to thrive, the retail side of the industry is facing challenges. Gross gambling yield for in-person betting dropped by 3%, down to £554 million, while the total number of bets and spins declined to 3.1 billion.
The decline reflects broader challenges facing UK high streets, with betting shops joining other retail outlets in fighting against changing consumer habits, economic pressures, and the convenience of digital alternatives. The trend has accelerated in recent years, with major operators including William Hill and Ladbrokes closing hundreds of locations across the country.
Monthly Active Accounts Rise
The Commission's report also revealed a modest 2% increase in monthly active online gambling accounts, reaching 13.5 million during the quarter. This slower growth in user numbers compared to revenue suggests existing players are spending more rather than operators attracting significant numbers of new customers.
Total bets and spins across all online verticals increased by 5% to 25.2 billion, demonstrating the high volume of gambling activity taking place on digital platforms.
Regulatory Perspective
The regulator went on to explain that these statistics are based on numbers reported by operators, with a difference from the industry numbers that may contain free bets, promotions or other figures from other operators outside their submitted numbers.
Quarterly reports are one of the most important sources of information for the Commission to monitor market developments and identify potential consumer risks. The regulator, which has tightened controls over the last few years to protect vulnerable players, will be watching the trend towards extended slot gaming longevity.
As gambling sector changes in response to new regulations such as affordability checks introduced during 2024 and gambling harm prevention levy which came in line in January 2025, the data has also revealed these changes.
For the industry as a whole, the figures paint a picture of a sector in transition, with digital platforms increasingly dominant while traditional retail betting faces ongoing challenges as consumer preferences continue to evolve in our increasingly digital world.
