The gambling regulatory body in the UK has once again published some data revealing how the renewed stricter lockdown measures against the coronavirus infection have affected local players’ gambling behaviour.
As the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) explained at the time it published the report, the data reflects the period between March and October 2020 and covers both land-based and online gambling. While compiling the report, the gambling watchdog used data provided by UK high-street Licensed Betting Operators (LBOs).
According to the UKGC report, which was published yesterday by the regulatory body, a 29% month-on-month increase in gross gambling yield (GGY) was registered in the online market, as well as a 7% growth in the number of active accounts. The gambling watchdog explained that the main driver for the aforementioned growth was so-called real-event betting, with a 53% increase in its gross gambling yield registered.
An increase was registered in both the number of bets made over the period (12% growth) and the number of active players (7% growth), it is the operator margins that is considered the main driver for the growth.
UK Customers’ Gambling Behaviours Continue to Evolve
In its latest report, the UK Gambling Commission shared there was an increase in the number of online slots sessions that lasted over an hour. Their number rose by 12% to 2.2 million in October from the previous month. The same growth rate was registered in the number of overall sessions. Also, the average session length remained pretty much unchanged at 21 minutes but about 8% of all sessions were more than an hour long.
Licensed gambling companies saw a month-on-month growth across some of the metrics they shared with the UKGC. The gambling regulator commented that an increase of 1% in the number of placed bets or spins and a 9% growth in the gross gaming yield to £204 million likely to be affected by the same sporting results.
The UK Gambling Commission revealed that gambling behaviours have continued to evolve in the abovementioned period, as all economic sectors in the country respond to varying levels of coronavirus restrictions aimed at preventing the further spread of the Covid-19 infection. The constantly varying levels of restrictions are aimed at protecting local customers and make sure they are protected with all possible means, with land-based gambling premises required to adopt strict social distancing and cleaning protocols.
Recently, the UKGC addressed operators to remind them of the initial guidance to online gambling companies that was issued by the gambling watchdog in May 2020. It included a reference to the need for improved affordability checks carried out by gambling companies that are obliged to make sure their customers’ money has not been acquired as a result of illegal activities. Gambling companies are also required to prevent reverse withdrawals and to impose restrictions on certain bonus offers.
- Author
Olivia Cole
