UK online betting and gaming GGY rises slightly from March to April

UK online gambling operators posted a 2.6% rise in total gross gambling yield (GGY) from March 2021 to April 2021, according to the latest data from the UKGC.

Operators posted a collective £560.3m in GGY in April compared to £546.3m fore the previous month thanks largely due to the rise in sports betting, specifically horseracing’s Grand National.

Sports betting GGY jumped from £250.6m in March to £267.4m in April, despite the total number of bets on the vertical falling 8% month-to-month.

Elsewhere, slot GGY dipped slightly from £202.9m in March to £202.m in April while casino GGY fell from £71.2m to £70.9m.

There were mixed fortunes for the three breakout stars of the initial first lockdown period in 2020, with virtuals and poker GGY both falling month-to-month while esports GGY grew slightly.

Virtuals posted a March GGY of £8.4m that fell 9% to £7.6m in April as poker GGY also decreased 9% from £9.2m in March to £8.4m in April.

Esports GGY grew 3% from £1.8m to £1.9m between March and April.

Elsewhere, the UKGC reported a 4% decrease in gaming sessions lasting longer than one hour from March to April and a 4.8% rise in active users across all verticals, once again boosted by a 12% rise in sports betting users.

The UKGC said that despite the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, operators should remain vigilant against potential gambling-related harm.

The UKGC said: “Against the background of this data, and our experience of the pandemic period so far, extra operator vigilance continues to be needed. Although the easing of restrictions is beginning to take place, operators still need to be mindful.

“People will still be spending more time at home and online and many people are likely to be feeling more isolated and vulnerable as a result of the length of the pandemic period, the restrictions that are still in place and further uncertainty about their personal or financial circumstances.”