Online slot play increased 6% in Q4 FY2024–25 versus the same quarter last year. The UK Gambling Commission’s latest study examines player activity, betting volumes, and Gross Gambling Yield year-on-year across the online and retail sectors. Read on to learn more about the latest trends and how they could affect the gaming industry’s future.

What’s the Purpose and Main Characteristics of the Report?

The UKGC has recently published a new report on gambling business data to March 2025. It’s part of a series inspecting the impact COVID-19 has had on the industry and how it’s changing over the years.

The report compares data from Q4 of financial year 2024 to 2025 (January – March 2025) with the same period for the previous year. It focuses on several sections of the industry, including:

• Total number of active online players
• Gross Gambling Yield for online and retail
• Number of bets/spins on online casino games
• Length of play sessions

The data is sourced from around 80% of the online and 85% of the retail markets, so it’s not a concrete representation of the entire industry.

Alongside this study, the UKGC published a market overview examining gambling behavior. It analyzes the total number of times the games are played, which can include the same person playing multiple different types. Additionally, they factor in free bets and bonuses.

Rise of Online Slots

Online slots continue to grow in popularity. Active players have risen by 6% since last year, averaging 4,740,347. This increase is even more impressive when compared to March 2020, when active players were 2,618,165, according to the UKGC’s past business data. That is likely due to the accessibility of slots for beginners and the fact many have unique minigames or features.

The Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) has also seen a significant rise of 11%, totaling £689 million for the entire examined quarter. While the number of bets has increased by 6%, many may be bonus spins. The industry knows slots’ popularity, so they often feature promotions with free spins or highlight specific titles.

Increased Playtime on Slots

Another trend regarding slots is the increase in the length of play sessions. While the average length is still around 17 minutes, there has been a 5% year-on-year increase in sessions that last over one hour. However, only 6% of the sessions lasted more than that time, which is consistent with data from 2024.

One reason sessions may be longer is that the UKGC introduced a requirement in 2021 that game spins must last at least 2.5 seconds. However, it’s also possible that UK players can experience longer sessions due to free spins and bonuses.

Slot games also have a max limit of £5 (£2 for 18 – 24 year-olds), so players may be able to afford longer sessions. Some have long bonus rounds, increasing the time spent playing. However, excessive playtime is a marker of harm, so many sites have built-in clocks and remind players to take breaks.

Sportsbooks and Other Games

While slots remain the most popular, other games and sportsbooks have seen a small decline since last year. Although the Cheltenham Festival’s favorable odds brought a 5% year-on-year increase for this year, overall bets have decreased by 1%. There’s also a decrease of 2% in monthly active accounts.

The UKGC has not stated any specific reasons for the decline and will continue investigating. One suggestion is that there’s lower engagement, with existing players placing larger bets. A new requirement was also introduced for other games, where game cycles must last at least 5 seconds, so slower games may be unappealing to players.

Another possibility for the decline in other games is that they are too complex compared to slots. That’s why many developers focus on game shows for live casinos or add unique rulesets to their games, like swapping cards between hands in blackjack.

eSports Declining

Despite the increased GGY of bets on real events, eSports has declined by 26%. It went from £1,431,738 in March 2024 to £1,120,811 in March 2025. That shows it’s still niche and has a volatile market.

Nevertheless, eSports continues to grow in popularity in the UK according to a study conducted by Tencent. Institutions like the City of Oxford College are even offering courses in eSports journalism.

Retail Betting Experiences a 6% Decline

Retail betting continues to decline as online options become more popular. Over-the-counter bets have decreased by 6%, although the GGY remains consistent. Meanwhile, bets placed on terminals have increased by 2%, likely because they speed up and streamline the process.

Although physical slot machines have declined in GGY, players are spending more year-on-year. Overall, online betting is steadily replacing retail betting in popularity. Retailers will likely have to consider mobile apps or other online options to expand.

Conclusion: Responsible Gambling

Aside from examining the industry, the UKGC also conducted a study on people’s experiences with gambling. It found that many gamblers distrusted the effectiveness of responsible gambling tools or were unaware of them.

According to the report, adverse effects can appear even years later, so it’s essential to study the lived experiences of gamblers and provide good support. However, some players have also reported positive social impacts, like gambling with friends. Many players think tools like deposit limits are helpful.

In its industry report, the UKGC also found that customer interaction with support teams has increased by 33% year-on-year. While many of these are automated, direct interactions increased by 53%.

GamCare also reported a 25% increase in helpline contacts. It’s clear that trust in responsible gambling tools needs to be raised, and the ones available to players need to be better promoted.