The latest data from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) shows that despite the introduction of new betting limits on online slots, the total gambling yield (GGY) continues to grow. In the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year (April to June), online GGY amounted to 1.49 billion pounds, a 2% increase year-on-year. Total bets and spins increased by 6% to 26.1 billion, but the average monthly active accounts decreased by 10% to 12.7 million.
Real event betting performance declined, with GGY falling by 9% to 570 million pounds, the number of bets decreased by 7%, and the average monthly active accounts decreased by 16%. Online slots performed impressively, with GGY increasing by 14% to 745 million pounds, the number of spins increased by 8% to 24.4 billion, and the average monthly active accounts remained at 4.4 million. Both GGY and the number of spins reached all-time highs.
The number of online slot gaming sessions lasting over an hour decreased by 9% to 8.8 million, and the average duration of each gaming session decreased by 1 minute to 16 minutes. The new betting limits had a limited impact on growth, more likely to slow down the pace rather than cause a decline in revenue. The £5 limit for all adults came into effect on April 9, and the £2 limit for adults aged 18 to 24 came into effect on May 21.
Retail gambling revenue fell by 5% to 552 million pounds, and the number of bets and spins decreased by 3% to 3.2 billion. The Gambling Commission emphasized that this data set may include free bets and bonuses, and does not cover all operators, so it should not be directly compared with other industry statistics.
