The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has revealed further data regarding the evolvement of the coronavirus lockdown measures that have affected online gambling behaviour in the country.
The data provided by the gambling regulatory body reflects the period from March 2020 to April 2021 and covers both land-based and digital gambling operator data, with the brick-and-mortar premises have only been able to start operation only recently, since being forced to cease operation in December.
The gambling watchdog said it is not advisable to make comparisons on a year-on-year basis between months last year and months in 2021 because of the different circumstances under which companies were able to operate then and now. The update contains the operator data gathered for April, too.
According to the latest online operator data for April 2021, activity in the digital gambling sector rose with the presence of the Grand National, with a 4% increase in the number of active accounts in March and a 3% increase in gross gambling yield (GGY). On the other hand, the number of bets fell by 2%. As the UK Gambling Commission revealed, the GGY generated by slots remained relatively flat at £202 million from March to April, and the number of active players and bets declined by 1%.
As the gambling regulator said in its latest announcement, the number of online slot sessions that lasted for more than an hour fell by 4% to 2.6 million. The length of the average session decreased by almost 8% to 20.2 minutes.
UK Gambling Commission to Continue Monitoring the Coronavirus-Related Effects on the Country’s Gambling Sector
The UKGC explained that the sector still needs careful observation, especially considering the experience of the regulator with the coronavirus pandemic so far.
The gambling industry watchdog said that, although the easing of restrictions has already begun, the companies still need to bear in mind that people are still expected to spend more time at home, and online, respectively, with a lot of people likely to feel vulnerable or isolated as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. On the other hand, some restrictions are still in place, which brings additional uncertainty about people’s personal or financial situation. Furthermore, some gambling companies’ customers, especially avid gamblers who access a range of products, are expected to spend more time and money on gambling products and services.
The gambling regulatory body shared that it has addressed companies at the beginning of the recent lockdown, as it was willing to remind them of the guidance issued to online gambling companies by the watchdog in May 2020 to warn them about their responsibilities during the period of strict social isolation and distancing measures.
The UKGC also said that it continues to track coronavirus-related risk by monitoring important data and collecting this additional data, making it public. Furthermore, the regulator shared that it will still evaluate the impact of the strengthened guidance issued to gambling companies and support the UK gambling sector as brick-and-mortar premises adjust to changing Covid-19 restrictions.
- Author
Daniel Williams
