UK remote gaming revenues rise to £800m
Increase owing to growth of existing operators, according to Gambling Commission data
UK-based egaming operators saw gross gambling yield (GGY) approach £800m in the year ended 30 September 2012, according to the latest figures published by the country’s Gambling Commission.
Total GGY rose from £710.43m reported in the April 2011-March 2012 period to £795.53m in October 2011 – September 2012, despite betting exchange figures witnessing a substantial drop due to Betfair moving its business offshore in August 2011.
Casino turnover increased to £754.04m for the period October 2011 – September 2012, a four-year high which led to a £10.93m increase in GGY.
Football betting remains the dominant driver of betting revenues, comprising 40% of all remote betting revenue while the rise of in-game betting in tennis was reflected in GGY for the sport rising to £106.19m for the period, putting the sport on a par with horse betting in Commission regulated markets.
Within the remote casino sector, slots continued its rise, with GGY increasing to £19.27m for the year to September, up £6.83m from the year ended 30 April. GGY from table games also rose during the period, reaching £7.99m.
The figures “ which only cover UK-based and licensed operators rather than UK-facing firms based offshore “ come as the country’s Gambling (Licensing) Act awaits its second hearing in Parliament. The bill, introduced in May, could lead to the introduction of a Point of Consumption Tax in the UK as soon as December 2014.
The Gambling Commission estimates UK-licensed operators currently comprise just 4% of the global remote gambling industry in terms of gross gaming yield.