UKGC FIGURES SHOW ONLY MODERATE GROWTH IN ONLINE GAMBLING DURING PANDEMIC

The UK’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published figures showing the number of online bets and active accounts rose moderately during the COVID-19 crisis. 

According to the report, which covers the period from March to December 2020, there was a 6% month-on-month growth in active accounts, reaching almost three million, coupled with a 12% increase in bets – rising to near six billion. 

At the same time, gross gambling yield (GGY) rose 30%, powered by strong margins, and slots GGY went up 13% to nearly £200M GBP. The Gambling Commission also noted that 8% of slots sessions lasted over an hour.

Like gambling regulators in other countries, the UKGC has repeatedly warned operators of the need for extra caution and social responsibility during the pandemic, as more people will be stuck and home and bored, and many will be suffering financial hardship and may be more vulnerable.

AYO.NEWS says:

The increase in online gambling really isn’t surprising given that retail betting shops, gambling arcades and casinos were closed for much of 2020 in the UK (and still are). 

In fact, considering the amount of extra time and boredom millions of people have found themselves dealing with, the growth in gambling is probably lower than many expected. Either way, it certainly pours cold water on the claims from the anti-gambling lobby that online gambling went out of control during the crisis. 

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