UK online gross gambling yield up 8% in Q2 in last report ahead of Autumn Budget

Great Britain’s online gross gambling yield (GGY) rose 8% year-on-year in Q2 to £1.42 billion ($1.87 billion), according to the latest figures from the Gambling Commission.

The update comes as the regulator also published its 2025 Young People and Gambling Report, offering new insight into youth engagement with gambling and related activities.

Market performance and operator concerns

Total online bets and spins increased 3% to 26.1 billion in the quarter, while average monthly active accounts declined 7% to 12 million. Retail and land-based betting GGY reached £508 million ($670 million), up 12% from the same period last year, although bets in that segment decreased 3% and average monthly active accounts fell 14%.

The dataset is the final release before the Autumn Budget on November 26. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reported to be reviewing potential tax increases for the gambling sector. Operators, including Betfred, Entain, and The Rank Group, have publicly opposed possible changes.

Slots GGY rose 9% to £747 million ($986 million), with spins up 4% to 24.4 billion. The number of monthly active accounts for slots decreased 0.4% to 4.4 million. The Commission said the GGY and spins represented new Q2 peaks for the second consecutive year.

Online slots sessions lasting more than an hour declined 15% to 8.6 million, and average session length decreased by one minute to 16 minutes. About 4.6% of all sessions lasted more than an hour, down from 6% a year earlier.

Separately, betting premises GGY decreased 5% to £508 million ($670 million), and total bets and spins declined 2% to 3.1 billion. 

Youth gambling survey results

The Commission’s new Young People and Gambling Report surveyed 3,666 respondents ages 11 to 17 across schools in England, Scotland, and Wales. It found that 49% had experienced some form of gambling in the past year, while 30% spent their own money on gambling during the same period. The proportion experiencing gambling-related problems was 1.2%, statistically stable compared to 1.5% in 2024.

Most youth gambling involved activities that are legal or not age-restricted: arcade gaming machines (21%), private betting with friends or family (14%), and playing cards with friends or family for money (5%).

The Commission reiterated that operators must maintain protections preventing minors from accessing gambling products. New rules require all land-based licensees to conduct age-verification tests when purchasing, and staff must check the age of any customer who appears under 25.

Research focus on early experiences

The regulator is expanding its work on early gambling experiences and “gateway” products, examining how activities such as loot boxes, social gaming, and prize draws may influence future behavior.

Tim Miller, the Commission’s Executive Director of Research and Policy, said: “Each year this report further strengthens understanding of the relationship between young people and gambling.”

He added: “Where it relates to regulated forms of gambling, we use the data to continuously keep under review and, where needed, strengthen the suite of protections for young people that we require gambling companies to have in place.”