United Kingdom’s Gambling Handle Records Year-on Year-Increase

The UK Gambling Commission has released new data showing a steady uptick in betting and gambling activities across the country in the fourth quarter of the 2022/2023 fiscal year. According to the Commission’s latest data, the country experienced a 5% rise in gross gaming yield (GGY) from January to March, surpassing the £1.3 billion ($1.39 billion) threshold.

The most recent data is recorded from legal operators in the country, accounting for 80% of the online gambling sector. The Commission has revealed that the increased GGY was boosted by increased real event betting, especially during the Cheltenham Festival. This four-day event triggers a beehive of betting activities across the country’s retail betting shops.

That said, real event betting increased by 13% year on year to £482.8 million, with the total number of live wagers and activities rising by 19% and 9%, respectively. The Commission was sure that the Cheltenham Festival, which often happens during the quarter, is at the heart of the increased betting engagements. In addition, the regulator says the return of domestic league football after the 2022 World Cup may also have played a key role.

In the meantime, there was increased customer engagement with slot machines over the previous year. The Commission noted that the Gross Gaming Yield for slot machines increased by 2% compared to last year to post (£541 million. Also, the number of spins played on slots increased by 9% during the reference period, and the average number of active player accounts rose by 15% to 3.9 million monthly.

However, the UK Gambling Commission noted that the average gambling session time has remained constant at 17 minutes for the second consecutive Q4. In general, the number of slot sessions that lasted over an hour was 8.8 million, marking a 10% increase compared to last year. This means 6.4% of all gambling sessions in the United Kingdom lasted more than an hour.

On the flip side, the gross gaming yield for other gaming verticals, such as casinos, nosedived by 3% to £153.11 million, while poker numbers decreased by 7% from £19.4 million in Q4 of 2021/22 to £18 million this year.

Regarding social responsibility, there were 12% fewer customer interactions, decreasing to 2.9 million. But the good news is that the number of direct contacts initiated by regulated operators increased by 31%. This could be a significant development for players, operators, and the regulator because the recently released White Paper includes recommendations for operator social responsibility and compliance.