The data reflects the period between March 2020 and March 2022, and covers both online and in-person gambling, with data from Licensed Betting Operators (LBOs) found on Britain’s high streets.

The latest data, referring to quarters in the financial year 2021-2022, shows that online total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) in Q4 was £1.2bn ($1.50bn), down 1% from Q3. The overall number of total bets/spins declined 2% from Q3 to Q4, with the average monthly active accounts increasing by 5%.

Slots GGY decreased by 5% to £541m between Q3 and Q4, with the number of spins decreasing 2% to 17.9 billion, and the average monthly active accounts increasing 5% to three million per month.

The number of online slots sessions lasting more than one hour fell by 2% between Q3 and Q4, with the average session lasting 18 minutes. Approximately 7% of all sessions lasted more than one hour.

And LBO GGY climbed by 3% to £551m between Q3 and Q4, with the number of total bets and spins decreasing to 3.2 billion.

“We recognise that the country is now entering a different phase as we adjust to life after a series of restrictions,” a statement from the Gambling Commission read. “We continue to expect extra vigilance from operators as consumers are impacted in different ways by the circumstances brought on by the pandemic and the wider economic environment. 

“Many people will still feel vulnerable as a result of the length of the pandemic period, further uncertainty about their personal or financial circumstances or readjusting budgets and time as life returns to normal with a wider set of finance drivers.”