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Gambling & Betting Activities in the UK - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Freddie Griffin Freddie Griffin London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2025 SIC R92.000

Revenue

£17.2bn

2025-26

£17.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

91,549

Businesses

914

Wages

£X.Xbn

Gambling & Betting Activities in the UK industry analysis

Gambling and betting form a key part of the UK’s landscape, intertwined with the nation’s culture through sport, racing and leisure. Betting habits have evolved, with punters moving from high-street shops to online platforms that now pull in the lion’s share of revenue – data from the Gambling Commission (GC) shows the online sector’s gross gambling yield (GGY) reached £1.54 billion in 2024, underlining the scale of this shift. As online betting has grown, though, so too have concerns over addiction, prompting regulators to tighten rules and step up efforts to protect customers. 

Trends and Insights

  • Online gambling is booming. Companies are investing heavily in digital platforms to tap into this trend, enhancing the customer experience to capture more of the market.
  • Easy accessibility and convenience give online betting the edge. The convenience of betting anywhere while having a wide range of betting options is driving the growth of online gambling.
  • London benefits from high average disposable income. Consumers in the capital tend to have higher incomes, which leaves them with more money to spend on gambling and betting, drawing companies to the capital.
  • Well-known names dominate the industry. Big names like Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill benefit from brand recognition, as punters often stick to what they know.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £17.2bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Bookmakers ramp up marketing in the fight for punters

  • As betting shifts online, the multitude of services on offer to punters at the click of a button has intensified competition between gambling companies. This has sparked a boon in marketing activity among the leading bookmakers as they seek to draw customers in through sign-up offers, promotions and campaigns that create brand recognition and keep them front of mind among punters. One example is Bet365, which launched a “Bet £10, get £30 in free bets” offer for new customers in July 2025. Most other companies rely on similar offers to hook new customers and encourage sustained betting over time, boosting revenue.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Gambling & Betting Activities in the UK
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Worries around the impact of gambling mount, prompting tighter regulation

  • Concerns over gambling addiction are set to continue growing as society becomes more aware of the risks tied to online play and high-stakes products. This is likely to drive tighter regulation to curb excessive staking, impose minimum deposit limits and expand affordability checks. Further caps on risky wagering, similar to the slot stake limits introduced in 2025, are expected to be implemented across other betting formats as policymakers seek to balance the surging popularity of gambling with greater player protection, which is likely to limit revenue growth and squeeze profit.

Biggest companies in the Gambling & Betting Activities in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue (£m)
2026
Flutter Entertainment plc
2,815.6
Entain plc
2,360.3
William Hill Ltd
1,207.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Gambling & Betting Activities in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Betting shops, Remote gaming and Remote betting. Betting shops is the largest segment of the Gambling & Betting Activities in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Lotteries remain the most popular betting activity in the UK

  • Unlike other forms of gambling, lottery games in the UK are open to consumers from the age of 16. This broader age eligibility expands the potential consumer base, allowing lottery companies to reach younger demographics earlier.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes companies that operate casinos, bingo halls, betting shops, video gaming terminals, gambling websites and lotteries. Revenue is measured as net revenue, or the difference between the amount wagered by customers and the amount paid out to them for wins and cancellations on bets.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom include The National Lottery and lotteries , Remote gaming, Remote betting and Betting shops.

Companies

Companies covered in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom include Flutter Entertainment plc, Entain plc and William Hill Ltd.

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom include net revenue, fixed-odds betting terminal (fobt), high roller, blockchain and gross gambling yield (ggy).

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 92.00 - Gambling & Betting Activities in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Online gambling is booming. Companies are investing heavily in digital platforms to tap into this trend, enhancing the customer experience to capture more of the market.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Easy accessibility and convenience give online betting the edge. The convenience of betting anywhere while having a wide range of betting options is driving the growth of onl...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London benefits from high average disposable income. Consumers in the capital tend to have higher incomes, which leaves them with more money to spend on gambling and betting,...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Well-known names dominate the industry. Big names like Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill benefit from brand recognition, as punters often stick to what they know.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Flutter leverages acquisitions to dominate the market. It’s solidified its position by acquiring major brands like Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Betting & Gaming. The expansio...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Flutter Entertainment plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Entain plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of William Hill Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Flutter Entertainment plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Entain plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for William Hill Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

There’s a high level of regulation. Because gambling can be addictive, the industry faces strict regulation. Laws like the Gambling Act 2014, National Lottery Act 2006 and on...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Regulations strain profit. Profit has come under pressure from tighter rules and greater compliance costs, including recently imposed slot limits in April 2025.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2019-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Assets (2019-2023)
  • Liabilities (2019-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom is £17.2bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 914 businesses in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom?

The Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom?

The Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 3.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom are Flutter Entertainment plc, Entain plc and William Hill Ltd

What does the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom include?

The National Lottery and lotteries and Remote gaming are part of the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom is Flutter Entertainment plc.

How competitive is the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Gambling & Betting Activities industry in the United Kingdom.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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