A new report by the Department of Trust (DoT) reveals that gambling accounts for 11% of monthly leisure spending among UK consumers. The study, which analyzed banking data from over 300,000 individuals who deposited a net total of £150.8 million with UK-licensed gambling operators (excluding the National Lottery) between April 2023 and April 2024, provides insights into gambling habits.
In the UK, gambling has become a significant part of leisure spending, with consumers increasingly dedicating a portion of their discretionary income to this activity. This highlights the ever-evolving role of gambling within the broader leisure market. This is evident in the surge in online gambling operators, which have made it more accessible, and enjoyable thanks to deals like no deposit bonuses which have no doubt further driven its popularity.
Many players can get such offers from the official NoDepositRewards website while still keeping themselves informed about the ins and outs of how this pastime should be practised in moderation. As the sector continues to expand, it remains crucial for individuals to engage responsibly, ensuring that gambling remains an enjoyable and balanced part of their overall leisure spending habits, not a means to get a source of income.
How Consumers Are Using Their Budgets
While gambling often garners attention in industry reports, it doesn't dominate consumers’ budgets. Gambling accounts for just 10.69% of the average gambler’s monthly leisure spending, with the typical bettor allocating £390 each month for various leisure activities.
For instance, consumers are more likely to spend on food—such as McDonald’s, with 87% of participants favouring the fast-food chain over gambling. Activities like watching Netflix, ordering food, and online betting collectively account for only about a third of overall leisure spending. The majority of leisure budgets go toward experiences like dining out, socializing, or travelling.
This data highlights that most UK gamblers engage with gambling as part of a balanced lifestyle, integrating it alongside other activities. It also suggests that gambling does not interfere with other forms of entertainment or promote a sedentary, stay-at-home lifestyle. Instead, it coexists with a broader range of social and recreational pursuits.
Big Spenders = Bigger Leisure Budgets
High-value gamblers tend to have significantly larger leisure budgets compared to the average bettor. While gambling ranks fifth in priority for the average gambler’s leisure spending, it takes the top spot for high-value gamblers, who allocate a larger share of their budget to it.
On average, high-value gamblers spend £452.38 a month on leisure activities, notably higher than the £386.67 spent by the typical gambler. Of this, 42.15%, or £191, is dedicated to gambling alone.
Food delivery is the second-largest expense for high-value gamblers, averaging £36.52 per month, which makes up just over 8% of their leisure budget. Entertainment, streaming, and media subscriptions follow closely at £35 (7.75%), about £10 less than the average monthly spend for all gamblers.
These patterns reveal that high-value gamblers allocate a significantly larger portion of their leisure budgets to gambling compared to casual bettors. However, this isn’t necessarily a negative trend, as these individuals have the financial means to accommodate such spending.
Moving Forward
The DoT report highlights an intriguing aspect of motivation within the gambling community: individuals with greater spending power often view gambling as an opportunity to increase their wealth, driven by the allure of securing even more money. In contrast, average bettors typically approach gambling as a recreational activity rather than a financial strategy. This distinction sheds light on the varying attitudes and behaviours within the gambling population and can help identify areas where problem gambling is most prevalent.
While average bettors spend less on gambling than anticipated, the data reveals that high-value gamblers, who allocate a larger proportion of their budgets to gambling, may face a greater risk of harm. This group’s spending patterns indicate the need for targeted support and intervention to mitigate potential issues.
Leveraging such data, policymakers and industry regulators can more effectively allocate resources, including the newly introduced £100 million annual levy. This mandatory contribution from gambling operators aims to fund treatment, education, and prevention programs. By analyzing spending data, these funds can be directed toward the most impactful interventions, ensuring that efforts are focused on segments of the population most vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
