Legislation
UK – Gambling Commission stats show 25 per cent FOBT revenue fall
By Lewis - 1 December 2020
The Gambling Commission’s latest bi-annual industry statistics show that revenue from FOBTs fell by more than 25 per cent to £2.09bn and machine yield was down 99 per cent to £12.1m in the 12 months following the government’s move to cut maximum stakes from £100 to £2.
Machines GGY over the year to March 2020 across all sectors decreased by £719.1m (-25.6 per cent). Across all sectors, GGY from Category B2 machines decreased by £1.2bn (-99.0 per cent) to £12.1m. B3 is now the highest machine category for GGY, increasing by £434.7m (39.5 per cent) to £1.5bn.
The number of licensed activities has decreased to 3,528 (-3.5 per cent). These licences are held by 2,576 operators (-4.2 per cent).
The overall number of licensed gambling premises in Great Britain has fallen by 685 to 10,098 (-6.4 per cent). The majority of these were betting premises which declined by 639 (-7.7 per cent)
Covering the period ending March 31, the statistics showed total GGY for the industry was £14.2bn, representing a marginal decrease of £84.1m (-0.6 per cent) on the previous reporting period.
Online gambling is the largest combined sector by GGY. With £5.7bn GGY, it comprises 39.9 per cent of the overall market. Remote sector GGY increased by £426.3m (8.1 per cent). Online casino games dominate the sector, generating £3.2bn in GGY, mostly from slots games. GGY for online betting totalled £2.3bn, led by football and horse betting. Remote bingo grew 0.9 per cent to £176.8m.
National Lottery ticket sales increased by £696.4m to £7.9bn. This supported a GGY equivalent increase of £319.9m (10.4 per cent), to £3.4bn, making the National Lottery the second largest sector by GGY. Over the same period, the primary contribution to good causes increased by £172.3m (11.6 per cent) to £1.7bn.
Non-remote betting GGY was the third largest sector by GGY with £2.4bn (-26.4 per cent). GGY for off-course, on-course and pool betting all decreased. Within off-course data, machines GGY decreased by £751.6m (-41.2 per cent). Machines represented 44.7 per cent of total betting GGY. Total numbers of betting premises have continued to decline for the sixth consecutive reporting period to 7,681 (-7.7 per cent).
The non-remote casino sector saw a decrease of £42.8m (-4.0 per cent) in GGY, to £1.0bn. This was caused by a decrease in GGY from casino games of £38.8m (-4.6 per cent). GGY from casino-based machines decreased by £3.9m (-1.8 per cent).
Non-remote bingo GGY decreased to £636.0m (-5.7 per cent), continuing a steady decline. Lotteries excluding the National Lottery and small society lotteries saw a GGY equivalent increase to £611.6m (13.3 per cent), with balance to good causes at £366.8m, a £35.6m (10.7 per cent) increase from the last reporting period.
In the arcades sector, adult gaming centres showed an increase of £36.1m (9.3 per cent) in GGY, reporting £424.8m. GGY for licensed family entertainment centres also increased (5.3 per cent), reporting £52.4m.
