Gambling - Latest Industry Statistics
2017
In May and November the Gambling Commission publish Industry statistics. The latest report can be found here.
The statistics show the gambling industry demonstrates continued growth in most areas with the exception of bingo and the National Lottery which has shown a reduction in gross gambling yield (GGY) compared to the period April 15 to March 2016. The reduction in GGY for the lottery has been reflected in a 5.7% reduction, to £1.7bn, in the contribution by the lottery to good causes although a 9% increase has been seen in contributions by large society lotteries. This 9% gain does not offset the National Lottery reduction as the total contributed by the large society lotteries is a comparatively smaller sum of £231.8m.
The figures also show a reduction in a number of areas including the total number of employees in the Great Britain gambling industry (down 0.4%).
Betting shops (-1.4%), Bingo premises (-5.7%), Casino (1 less) have also reduced over the period.
The statistics also monitor the number of gaming machines (excluding those requiring only a local authority permit). The number of gaming machines generally (-0.2%) and B2 (aka Roulette Machines or FOBT’s) (-0.6%) specifically has seen a reduction over the same period. A reduction of B2 would be expected when the number of betting shops reduces over the same period.
Finally, the remote sector including online betting, bingo and casino games has a 32% market share by reference to GGY. Following changes to legislation on 1st November 2014 which required oversees companies operating in the UK to obtain necessary permissions from the Commission the GGY has increased by almost 500% from this sector.