In March, the British gaming and gambling industry reported total gross gambling yield (GGY) of £546.2 million, as online slots revenue reached a record high. The figures, collected from operators covering approximately 80% of the online gambling market, indicated significant changes in gambling behavior amid lockdowns; however, the Commission advised against year-on-year comparisons due to varying operating conditions.
During the last full month of lockdown in England, online slots revenue climbed to £202.9 million, representing a 15.2% increase from February and a 1.5% increase from the previous peak in December 2020. The number of slot players also reached a record 3.3 million, marking a 10% rise from the previous month and a 10.1% increase compared to the record in December 2020. For the first time, the number of spins exceeded 6 billion.
While the average duration of slot sessions fell to 21 minutes, tying the lowest recorded length, sessions of one hour or more rose by 8% month-on-month, totaling 2.7 million. Online sports betting revenue decreased by 5.1% to £250.5 million, despite the occurrence of the Cheltenham Festival in March, with over six million sports bettors placing a record 375.2 million bets.
Non-slot igaming revenue increased by 10.8% from February, totaling £71.2 million, alongside a 13% growth in online casino players. Poker revenue dipped slightly to £9.2 million. Virtual betting was up 17.7% and esports betting grew by 16.9% from the previous month, while other revenue fell to £2.1 million.
The Commission released a survey to assess changes in gambling habits since the onset of lockdowns. The survey indicated that more gamblers reported a decrease in their activity—23% compared to 18% who noted an increase. However, this disparity was narrower than the 27% to 13% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Among the respondents, 3% stated their gambling had significantly increased during lockdown, while 12% said it had decreased significantly. Those who gambled frequently—three or more times in the month prior to the survey—were more likely to report increased activity, with 40% noting an uptick compared to 16% who said their gambling had decreased. Notably, young men were more inclined to report such increases.
Boredom emerged as the predominant reason for increased gambling, cited by 47% of respondents. Other reasons included having more spare time (35%), increased funds (20%), personal desire to gamble (33%), and compensating for lost income (13%).
As restrictions ease, the Commission cautioned operators to maintain vigilance, noting that some individuals may still experience feelings of isolation and vulnerability. Additionally, the Commission addressed ongoing discussions regarding remote customer interaction, specifically the potential integration of mandatory affordability checks once a player reaches a £100 threshold. While the consultation continues, no definitive stance has been taken on its incorporation into the broader Gambling Act review by the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
A spokesperson for the Commission stated, "Our work on remote customer interaction continues. We have received 13,000 responses to our consultation and are reviewing the evidence. An update will be published to outline our next steps focusing on current risks in our casework. Meanwhile, we are actively addressing any breaches related to customer interaction requirements identified through compliance and enforcement actions. Many online operators have not set adequate thresholds for risk identification and lack timely responses to mitigate potential harm."
