UK Gambling Commission Releases Annual Industry Statistics for 2025-2026 Financial Year
Written by Vera Frank · Oct 1, 2026
UK Gambling Commission Releases Annual Industry Statistics for 2025-2026 Financial Year
The UK Gambling Commission has published its Industry Statistics report covering the financial year from April 2025 to March 2026, and the figures show Great Britain’s customer-facing gambling sector reached a total gross gambling yield of £17.5 billion, marking a 4.4% increase from the previous year; this growth occurred even as the number of licensed premises continued a gradual decline.
Remote Sector Leads Expansion
Remote operations drove most of the increase, with the combined GGY from online casino, betting and bingo activities rising 6.9% to £8.3 billion; within that total, remote casino games alone contributed £5.7 billion, and slots within those casino offerings accounted for £4.8 billion. Observers note that the remote channel has maintained steady momentum while land-based venues experienced slower but still positive movement, reflecting broader shifts in how people access gambling products across Great Britain.
Land-Based Performance Remains Steady
Land-based sectors recorded a more modest 1.1% rise, bringing their contribution to £4.9 billion for the same twelve-month period; this figure encompasses traditional betting shops, casinos and bingo halls that continue to operate under the Commission’s licensing framework. Data from the report indicates that while overall yield edged upward, the physical footprint of the industry contracted slightly, with the total number of licensed premises falling 2% to 8,081 locations.
Changes in Betting Shop Numbers
Betting shops experienced the most noticeable reduction, dropping 3.6% to 5,617 outlets, a trend that has persisted across recent reporting periods as operators adjust their retail networks amid changing consumer habits. The Commission’s statistics provide a clear snapshot of these adjustments without attributing causes, yet the numbers align with ongoing consolidation in the high-street presence of gambling businesses.
Context of the Latest Release
By October 2026 the Industry Statistics report stands as the most recent official overview of licensed gambling activity, giving regulators, operators and researchers a consistent benchmark against which to measure future performance; the data covers only customer-facing activities and excludes any non-licensed or overseas-facing operations that fall outside the Commission’s remit.
Figures reveal that remote casino games, particularly slots, continue to represent a substantial portion of the remote total, while land-based venues maintain a smaller but stable share of overall yield; the 4.4% year-on-year increase in total GGY reflects these combined movements without indicating acceleration or deceleration beyond the reported percentages.
Key Metrics at a Glance
- Total GGY: £17.5 billion, up 4.4% year-on-year
- Remote casino, betting and bingo GGY: £8.3 billion, up 6.9%
- Remote casino games: £5.7 billion, with slots at £4.8 billion
- Land-based GGY: £4.9 billion, up 1.1%
- Licensed premises: 8,081, down 2%
- Betting shops: 5,617, down 3.6%
The Commission’s publication follows its standard annual cycle and supplies the raw data that industry participants and oversight bodies use to track licensed activity across both digital and physical channels. Those who monitor these releases regularly find the consistent methodology allows direct comparison between successive financial years, even as market composition evolves.
Conclusion
The April 2025 to March 2026 statistics therefore provide a factual record of a market where remote channels expanded at a faster pace than land-based operations, while the overall number of physical sites continued to contract at a measured rate. The report, available through the Industry Statistics page, supplies the precise breakdown that regulators and operators reference when assessing the current scale of Great Britain’s licensed gambling sector.