The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released its latest market data, showing a gross gambling yield (GGY) of £1.32 billion ($1.71 billion) for the three months leading up to September 30. The growth was mainly driven by a 16% surge in online slot activity, setting a new record for slot revenue.
Over 25 billion bets or spins in a record quarter
The UKGC gathered data from major online operators, covering March 2020 through September 2024. The report noted an 11% year-on-year (YoY) increase in GGY for the July to September 2024 period.
During this time, the total number of bets or spins hit a record 25.2 billion, the highest quarterly figure recorded, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. Monthly active accounts also rose by 8%. This dataset includes some free bets and bonuses but may not be fully representative as it does not cover all operators.
Online wagering revenue rises amid fewer bets
Online betting on real events saw a 6% YoY increase in GGY, reaching £453 million ($587 million), despite a 10% drop in the number of bets. Monthly active accounts in this sector grew by 9% compared to the same period last year.
Slot spins up 13%, with increased participation
Slot spins rose by 13% during the quarter, setting a new peak of 23.3 billion, while average monthly active accounts increased by 16% to 4.4 million. The average spins per session dropped slightly from 147 to 142, with GGY per session marginally declining from £4.20 ($5.45) to £4.13 ($5.36). This record-breaking slot GGY was partly due to one operator reclassifying certain products into the slots category.
The number of online slot sessions exceeding an hour grew by 9% YoY to 10 million, while total slot sessions rose by 18% to 164.7 million, the highest recorded. Sessions lasting over an hour accounted for 6.1% of all play, down from 6.6% in the same period last year. The average session length remained consistent at 17 minutes.
Customer interactions and offline betting trends
Customer interactions increased by 1% to 3 million, with most interactions being automated. Direct interactions by operators saw a slight 1% YoY decrease.
From July to September, offline betting GGY dropped by 1% YoY to £533 million ($689 million), while total bets and spins fell slightly by 0.1% to 3.1 billion. Over-the-counter bets declined by 6% to 134 million, with GGY for these bets down by 8% to £152 million ($196 million).
Self-service betting terminal bets rose by 9% to 34 million, with GGY increasing by 8% to £101 million ($130 million). Meanwhile, GGY for machines saw a minor 0.2% increase to £281 million ($363 million), with average spending per session rising by 2% to £12.35 ($15.97). The average spins per machine session grew by two to 130, with sessions lasting over an hour remaining stable at 2% YoY.
This latest data underscores the steady rise in online gambling activity in the UK, with slot play driving significant growth in the sector.
