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Due to the increasing number of online gambling sites in the UK and their enticing offers, online gambling in the country is steadily rising. 

Gambling is more accessible than ever, and if you have an internet connection, you can gamble anywhere in the country. The liberal regulation of gambling in the UK has also contributed to the rise of gambling in the country. 

UK citizens increasingly gamble on lottery tickets, sports betting, and casino games. The following is a look at the numbers that paint an interesting picture of gambling in the UK: 

Devices For Online Gambling

Smartphones have become so prevalent that you will find them even in the poorest parts of the country. Therefore, it is no surprise that as of 2020, mobile phones are the predominant way people access online gambling sites and casinos, especially younger people. 

75% of people 18 to 34 used their phones to access independent casino portals such as NewCasinos and other sites compared to only 14% of people over the age of 65. 

Laptops were the second most popular device used for online gambling, with only 40% of gamblers using them. PCs were the third most popular device with 25% of gamblers using them, and tablets were the fourth with only 20% of gamblers using them. 

The UK Gambling Industry 

As of 2019, the global online gambling industry is worth about $66.7 billion and is expected to grow to about $92.9 billion by 2023. Europe had the largest market share of the industry at 54% compared to other continents, according to a report by Edison Investment Research. 

The UK is a significant contributor to the European online gambling market, contributing about 12% to the overall industry, which adds up to about $8 billion. 

The largest share of the UK gambling industry was made by online casinos, where many people claim to make money from online gambling. 

According to the UK Gambling Commission, as of November 2021, online casinos contributed £4 billion to the UK gambling industry. Remote betting came in a close second, with football and horse racing being the leading sports on which people bet. 

Remote bingo was also a significant contributor to the overall UK gambling industry, with £189 million as of November 2021.

Online Gambling Locations

According to the UK Gambling commission, most online gambling activities occur at home. About 80% of online gamblers did it at home, primarily caused by Covid restrictions that began in 2020.

Of the 20% of gamblers who performed online gambling activities outside the home, 44% were between 18 and 24. Other places where people perform online gambling actions were while commuting or traveling, at work, at sports venues, at the racing track, and in pubs or clubs.

The usage of mobile phone devices to gamble online in places outside the home indicates how technology is affecting online gambling. Online casinos with more responsive sites are dominating the market. 

Gambling Participation

According to the same study by the UK gambling commission in 2020, online gamblers hold three accounts on average. The figure rose from an average of 2.7 in 2018 to 3.2 in 2020, suggesting a rise in the future. 

Males, on average, have more online gambling accounts than females and participate more in online gambling. Younger gamblers also tend to have more accounts and use them more than older gamblers. Therefore, having more accounts and being younger increases the chances of online gambling participation. 

There are many statistics shedding light on the UK gambling industry. The above is a fraction, and the UK gambling commission is continually collecting data to learn more about the industry. The UK online gambling industry continues to grow with no signs of slowing down, and more research into the subject will be necessary for the future.