UK Gambling Commission data shows impact of Covid-19 on industry

With the arrival of COVID-19, the various lockdown rules and restrictions throughout 2020 have brought about significant changes that have impacted on the availability of product and sales channels for the gambling industry. The figures published reflect the uniqueness of this latest reporting period (see complete report). 

Remote (or online) gambling is the largest combined sector by GGY. With £3.1bn GGY, it comprises 52.3% of the overall market in this reporting period. Online casino games dominate the sector, generating £1.9bn in GGY, mostly from slots games. GGY for remote betting totalled £1.0bn, led by football and horse betting. GGY for remote bingo totalled £98.1m.

National Lottery ticket sales totalled £3.9bn. This supported a GGY equivalent of £1.6bn, making the National Lottery the second largest sector by GGY. Over the same period, the primary contribution to good causes totalled £775.1m.

Non-remote betting GGY was the third largest sector by GGY with £629.3m. Within off-course betting data, machines GGY totalled £304.9m. Machines represented 48.5% of total betting GGY. Total numbers of betting premises have continued to decline for the seventh consecutive reporting period to 6,735 (-12.3%).

Lotteries (excluding the National Lottery and small society lotteries), saw a GGY equivalent of £310.5m, with balance to good causes at £196.8m.

In the arcades sector, adult gaming centres totalled £97.0m in GGY and licensed family entertainment totalled £7.7m. Note that this data does not include family entertainment centres which operate using a permit from a local authority.

Non-remote bingo GGY totalled £92.0m, Machines represented 46.2% of the total bingo GGY.

The non-remote casino sector totalled £67.0m in GGY. Machines represented 27.7% of the total casino GGY

Machines GGY across all sectors totalled £470.6m. B3 with £396.8m is now the highest machine category for GGY.

The number of licensed activities has decreased to 3,468 (-1.7%). These licences are held by 2,522 operators (-2.1%).

The overall number of licensed gambling premises in Great Britain has fallen by 1,092 to 9,036 (-10.8%). The majority of these were betting premises which declined by 948 (-12.3%)

Key acts

The next full year’s data for reporting period April 2020 - March 2021 is due to be published in November 2021.