New figures from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) reveal notable changes in online gambling patterns after the introduction of maximum stake limits for online slots in 2025.
The UKGC’s operator data, spanning March 2020 to December 2025, shows that total online gross gambling yield (GGY) for Q3 of the 2025–26 financial year reached £1.5 billion, down 2% from the same quarter the previous year. Interestingly, while total bets and spins grew 6% year-on-year to 27.4 billion, the average monthly active accounts fell 2% to 12.7 million.
Real-event betting, however, saw a decline. GGY for this segment dropped 18% to £530 million, with bets down 6% and active accounts falling 7%.
In contrast, online slots continued to thrive. Slots GGY rose 10% to £788 million, while spins increased 7% to 25.7 billion. Average monthly active slots accounts climbed 5% to 4.6 million, marking new highs for three consecutive quarters.
Despite more frequent play, longer sessions are decreasing. Online slots sessions lasting over an hour dropped 16% year-on-year to 8.9 million, with the average session length shortening by two minutes to 16 minutes. The report notes that some operators changed how they measure session duration, which may impact comparisons.
Land-based betting outlets also reported declines, with GGY down 7% to £549 million and total bets and spins falling 1% to 3.1 billion in the same quarter.
Analysts suggest these trends reflect shifts in player behaviour prompted by regulatory changes and broader market dynamics. Sources like GamblersPro.com track variations in online gambling availability, illustrating how regulation influences play.
The UKGC advises consulting the full report for detailed figures across the entire period and warns that direct comparisons with other industry datasets may be misleading, particularly those including free bets or bonuses.