UK online GGY dips 1% to £1.2bn for first three months of 2022

As the UK continues to come to terms with the abolishment of lockdown restrictions, rising inflation and countless other environmental factors, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published further data shedding light on the state of gambling behaviour in the country following Covid-19.

With the data being collected from both online betting platforms and in-person at licensed betting operators (LBOs), the UKGC’s latest update is focused on a quarter-by-quarter comparison of behaviour in the most recent financial year ending March 2022.

The latest operator data has revealed that total online gross gaming yield (GGY) in Q4 (January to March) was £1.2bn, a decrease of 1% from Q3, while the overall number of bets/spins placed during the period was down 2%.

In a similar vein, the number of online gambling sessions lasting longer than an hour decreased by 2% from Q3, with the average session duration during Q4 coming in at just 18 minutes.

Looking specifically at slots, GGY decreased by 5% to nearly £541m between Q3 and Q4, while the overall number of spins dropped by 2% to 17.9 billion.

Despite these negative trends, however, monthly active accounts increased 5% to 3 million per month, suggesting that rather than stopping betting, users are instead becoming more selective about their spend and how long they play for.

Elsewhere, data revealed a 3% increase to £551m in LBO GGY between Q3 and Q4, even if the total number of bets and spins placed at in-person betting locations was also down for the period.

On the back of the data included in its latest report, the UKGC has reiterated that it expects operators to continue following the strengthened guidance issued during the first lockdown.

It also warned they should not attempt to take advantage of the situation in terms of marketing and – in particular – cross-sell opportunities as customers continue to adjust to the new normal in 2022.