By: Admin Super
The UK’s online gambling industry is one of the largest in the world, let alone Europe. Over the years, it has also grown at an accelerating rate, as has the gambling industry in many other countries, with the pandemic and the constant stream of new technological innovations. Whether you are a gambler or not, you will definitely be interested in the facts about UK gambling that we have gathered below.
The United Kingdom has the highest gross gaming revenue in all of Europe. It all started when the Gambling Act 2005 was passed, which liberalised gambling legislation and made the market increasingly open to UK gamblers. But the internet and smartphones have also played an important role, making sports betting and casinos more accessible across the country.
The increased accessibility has naturally led to more Brits using their computers or smartphones for entertainment. Moreover, with lucrative bonus offers, gambling companies continue to attract new customers with lucrative bonus offers. You will find all casinos offering free spins in this overview, which may be a bit overwhelming. However, the endless options make many UK players want to gamble more. In fact, an average of 44% of the population over the age of 18 gambles online at least once a month.
To offer games of chance to UK gamblers, operators must have a licence from the UK Gambling Commission, UKGC. And the UKGC is not particularly stingy when it comes to handing out licences. In fact, over the years, the UKGC has issued more than 3,600 licences to 2,600 online gambling operators, the majority of which are online casinos and bookmakers. And the number of licensed operators continues to grow.
According to surveys, the three main reasons why people engage in online gambling in the UK are escapism and relaxation, financial motivation and social and competitive aspects. In summary, the average British gambler does not spend a lot on gambling – £134 a year or an estimated £2.57 a week. This suggests that not many Brits are super-serious about gambling but rather bet occasionally in their spare time as an entertaining activity.