Online betting is the largest sector of the gambling industry in the United Kingdom, accounting for 52% of all bets, a thorough study conducted by LeanBackPlayer reveals.
According to the report published in July 2021, UK Gambling Commission’s May 2021 data revealed that the total gross gambling yield (GGY) amounted to $8.2 billion throughout the months between April and September 2020 (the most recent data). All forms of gambling are included in that number - lotteries, online wagers, remote betting, bingo, and more.
Online and remote wagering were the largest sectors of the UK’s gambling industry throughout the said period with a total bet value of $4.3 billion or a 52.3% market share. In addition to online wagers, these numbers also include racetrack betting. Slots made up for 69.3% of all the money wagered at online gambling destinations, adding up to £3 billion of the total GGY. Blackjack and roulette accounted for 6% and 14% of online GGY, respectively.
The National Lottery positioned itself as the second-biggest revenue-maker with a GGY at $2.2 billion. At $875.2 million, in-person wagering and betting at brick-and-mortar locations came third.
LeanBackPlayer’s report also analyzes the possibility for remote wagering to overtake brick-and-mortar casinos. The results reveal that online and remote wagering accounted for more than half of all revenue collected by the industry from the last months of 2019 into 2020, amounting to an increase of 8.1%.
Google Trends data reveals that since lockdowns and other public health measures stopped many gambling venues from running their businesses at brick-and-mortar locations, more UK gambling enthusiasts searched online for the term “casino” than ever before.
Based on the information provided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), tax revenue from land-based casinos decreased in 2020. Between April 2020 and March 2021, the total tax revenue generated by gambling venues was $3.9 billion, a 6% drop in comparison to the data from the previous fiscal year.
