New gambling statistics suggest potential recovery Northern Irish industry
The last few years have seen downward trends in both turnover and registered businesses in the country.
Key points:
– Statistics from the Northern Irish gambling scene have been released
– Social lotteries and VAT-paying businesses are on the rise
The Department for Communities (DfC) in Northern Ireland has published its Northern Ireland Gambling Licensing and Industry Data report for 2024.
There were 112 amusement permits with 6,410 gaming machines with a maximum payout of £25 ($33.63), and a further 23 amusement permits covering 549 machines with a maximum payout of £8.
While there was one less £8 licence and two fewer £25 licences than 2023, there were 38% fewer machines in the former and 0.7% in the latter.
This indicates that smaller arcades and high-street slots are still operating at the same number as before, but are drastically cutting the number of machines on the premises.
This could indicate fewer people visiting the stores, rising utility prices or something as simple as renovations at a property cutting down on floor space.
There were a total of 36 bingo clubs licences live in 2024, 280 bookmaking office licences and 106 bookmaking licences.
According to the DfC, a bookmaking office licence allows “a licenced bookmaker to carry out the business of a bookmaker in premises specified in the licence”, while a bookmaker’s licence authorises the holder to “carry on the business of a bookmaker a) at a track or at a recognised point-to-point meeting; or b) in premises for which he holds a bookmaking office licence.”
As for lotteries, 147 social lotteries were renewed and 63 new licences were granted.
Good to know: Gambling turnover has been steadily declining in recent years, falling more than three-quarters since 2016, although the last data is £170.9m from 2023
Two horse racing tracks and two dog racing tracks were licensed, the same amount as the previous few years.
The number of VAT-registered gambling businesses in 2024 hit an all-time low of 80, compared to several years seeing this figure hit 95.
However, 2025 is already seeing a recovery in this regard, with five extra businesses registering so far this year.
Last week, more than 200 people came together to call for action on gambling harm in a new report published by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
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