Online gambling continues to attract new users every year, operators can play casino games from their mobile phones and it’s having a positive impact on the industry. Slots in particular are becoming one of the most played casino games, and recent statistics reflect this. So, let’s probe the rise in slots GGY to determine why it’s trumping other gambling activities like betting and poker, and draw a conclusion on whether it’s sustainable.
The Rise of Online Slots
Slots are one of the most popular games. They have a rich history spanning decades, making them familiar to players of all skill levels. The Liberty Bell, the very first mechanical slot machine, was created by Charles Fey in 1895. This had a lever and five symbols, including hearts, diamonds, spades, horseshoes, and a bell. They soon started to appear in casinos, saloons, and gambling halls where they were considered a social activity. Nowadays, slots are mainly online, with many different themed slot games such as those involving adventure, music, and mythology. Slots enthusiasts can spin the reels from their smartphones without having to travel to a land-based casino, which is a huge shift from just a few years ago.
The UK Gambling Commission Report
The Gambling Commission is the UK government’s regulatory body for gambling, they have been around since the 2005 Gambling Act. They release annual and quarterly data to give insights into revenue, player behaviour, and gambling trends. The results were found by shifting from a traditional phone survey to an online self-reporting tool, allowing participants to report their gambling behaviour directly and more conveniently. It is widely believed that one of the report’s limitations is that participants might not accurately report their gambling habits, either by forgetting details or downplaying how much they actually play due to embarrassment. These reports usually emphasise how popular games like slots are performing in comparison to other casino, and how much money operators are making from them, measured as Gross Gambling Yield (GGY).
The most recent report from the UK Gambling Commission was released in August 2025, providing data for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year. The online gross gambling yield (GGY) during this period increased 2% year-on-year to £1.49bn ($2.02bn), which was supported by growth across several verticals, according to the report. This rise can be explained by the growing number of online players, more frequent and longer gaming sessions, and the convenience of mobile platforms that make gambling easier to access anytime.
Additionally, slots GGY increased 14 per cent to £745 million year-on-year, and the number of spins increased 8 per cent to 24.4 billion, while the average monthly active accounts in Q1 remained stable at 4.4 million per month. The number of online slot sessions lasting longer than an hour fell by 9% year-on-year to 8.8 million, with the average session length dropping by one minute to 16 minutes. Around 5% of all sessions lasted over an hour, down from 6% the previous year. In comparison, online sports betting GGY was slightly lower than slots, while poker generated a smaller share of revenue. Poker GGY fell 19.9% to £11.3m, while the number of bets placed fell from 170.9 million to 143.9 million. Meanwhile, real event betting GGY fell 9% to £570m, the number of bets decreased 7% and the average monthly active accounts dropped 16%.
Why UK Gamblers Are Choosing Slots Over Others
Online slots have grown mainly because players find slots more straightforward and engaging. There are also a variety of slot games in different niches, and players can exit the session anytime and come back without losing any progress. Poker and sports betting require some level of skill and research, making a bit more time consuming for gamblers. Poker players need to understand strategy, odds, and bluffing, while sports betting relies on knowledge of teams, players, and match conditions.
The Future of Gambling Behaviour
The future of gambling is uncertain; however, slots are expected to continue to perform well over the next few years. With innovations such as AI-driven game design, chatbots, and augmented/virtual reality, slots have become more immersive and engaging, improving the experience for players and increasing revenues for providers. These increased revenues mean we could see regulatory shifts like the introduction of a single gambling levy. This could result in more gamblers being pushed to offshore operators, which is likely to benefit nobody, as players are then unsafe and the government can’t make an income through taxes. While betting and poker have lagged in recent years, they could still see growth if gambling operators and game developers improve mobile experiences.
Final Thoughts
Online slots are likely to continue surging due to mobile accessibility, engaging gameplay, and technological innovations. We can expect that in the coming years, it’s possible we could see similar results. Although regulation, economic pressures, or shifting player preferences could stunt growth and have a negative impact.