The Gambling Commission has revealed that the gross gambling yield (GGY) for the British gambling industry soared to £16.8 billion for the financial year ending March 31, 2025. This marks a 7.3% increase from the previous year, primarily fueled by the booming online gambling sector.
The latest figures from the Gambling Commission indicate a significant contribution from remote gambling, which saw a remarkable 13.1% rise to £7.8 billion. Online casino, betting, and bingo activities accounted for 46% of the total GGY, surpassing the land-based gambling sector, which secured a 29% share at £4.8 billion. Meanwhile, licensed lotteries, including the National Lottery and society lotteries, formed 25% of the industry’s GGY with £4.2 billion. When excluding lotteries, the GGY reached £12.6 billion over the year, reflecting a 9.3% increase.
These statistics arrive at a crucial time, as advocates for gambling reforms, such as Iain Duncan Smith of the Conservatives, chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Harm, and Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury Committee, are seizing this opportunity to press for a rise in British gambling tax in the upcoming Autumn Budget on November 26. They argue that the increased revenue from gambling should be channeled back into mitigating the negative social impacts of gambling.
Examining the British gambling market, the Gambling Commission reported a shrinkage in the number of operators to 2,179 by the end of March, down 3.7% from a year earlier. The number of licensed gambling activities also declined by 2.3%, totaling 3,086. The land-based gambling venues counted 8,234 licenses, decreasing by 1.1%. Betting shops saw a more pronounced decline of 1.8%, marking the eleventh consecutive year of reducing numbers, now at 5,825.
In a surprising move, the Gambling Commission recently suspended the license of Deadheat Racing, adding to the ongoing narrative of tightening regulations and oversight within the industry.
The report provides a detailed breakdown of the gambling yield by sector. The £7.8 billion in remote gaming comprised £5 billion from online casino games, with online slots alone generating £4.2 billion. Remote betting added £2.6 billion, while remote bingo contributed £165.6 million. Notably, within remote betting, football betting was a significant contributor, accounting for £1.3 billion, followed by horse racing at £766.7 million.
However, not all sectors experienced growth. The number of new account registrations fell by 4.1% to 34 million, and the number of active accounts stood at 24.4 million, with customer account funds totaling £1 billion—a 6.9% decrease from the previous year.
On the land-based side, non-remote betting GGY increased slightly by 0.7% to £2.5 billion. Yet, off-course betting machines saw a 2.2% decrease in GGY to £1.2 billion, accounting for nearly half of the non-remote betting sector’s yield. Conversely, the non-remote casino sector enjoyed a 7.9% boost, adding £68.6 million to GGY, totaling £933.8 million. Casino games generated £702.4 million, with gaming machines contributing £231.5 million.
The non-remote bingo segment also experienced growth, with GGY rising by 3.5% to £650.4 million, split between £226.4 million from bingo games and £424 million from bingo machines. Non-remote arcade GGY climbed by 9% to £723.3 million, driven by a 9.6% increase from adult gaming centers, which contributed £682.9 million. However, family entertainment centers saw a slight decline, contributing £40.3 million—a 0.4% decrease.
The National Lottery reported ticket sales of £7.9 billion from April 2024 to March 2025, up 0.8% from the previous year. Prizes returned to players amounted to £4.5 billion, a modest 0.5% increase, while contributions to good causes rose by 4.5% to £1.6 billion. Large society lotteries sold tickets worth £1.1 billion, a 4.7% increase, with £316.3 million returned as prizes. Contributions to good causes from these lotteries increased by 4.8% to £484.6 million.
Adding to the detailed annual statistics, the Gambling Commission has started publishing quarterly statistics, following regulatory changes made in July 2024. These reports include core data such as GGY and the number of premises, although they exclude lotteries and other specifics found in the annual summaries.
The first quarterly report records a GGY of £3.3 billion from April 2025 to June 2025, with 8,219 premises contributing to this figure. Remote gaming alone generated £2 billion, with online casinos making up £1.4 billion. Non-remote GGY was £1.2 billion.
While some see the growth in gambling yield as a positive sign of industry health and consumer confidence, others warn of the potential social costs. The increase in online gambling, in particular, raises concerns about the ease of access and the potential for gambling-related harm. As one observer noted, the numbers are impressive, but they also highlight the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals.
The debate over whether to increase gambling taxes will likely intensify as the Autumn Budget approaches. Proponents argue that higher taxes could fund essential public services and help address gambling addiction issues. However, industry representatives caution that excessive taxation could stifle growth and lead to unintended consequences, such as driving consumers toward unregulated markets.
As the UK government prepares to unveil its Autumn Budget, the decision on whether to adjust gambling taxes will be closely watched by both industry stakeholders and reform advocates. The delicate balance between fostering economic growth and safeguarding social welfare remains at the heart of the discussion as fiscal policies evolve in response to the burgeoning gambling market.
David Garato is a luminary in gaming journalism, renowned for peeling back the curtain on the gaming world with his witty and insightful commentary. A decade into weaving stories from the pixelated edges of indie games to the expansive universes of AAA titles, David’s work is a thrilling blend of analysis and adventure. When not writing, he’s live-streaming, sharing his gaming exploits with an engaged and growing audience. David doesn’t just write about games; he lives them, making him a trusted guide in the gaming community.
