Erin-Marie Gallagher<\/p>\n
New data published by the\u00a0UK Gambling Commission<\/strong>\u00a0(UKGC) has shown an increase in real event betting activity during September, driven by the return of\u00a0Premier League<\/strong>\u00a0football.<\/p>\n The statistics aim to show the ways in which the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown measures had impacted gambling behaviour across the UK, reflecting the period between March and September.<\/p>\n September data indicated that the return of live sporting events and Premier League football led to a growth in the online betting sector, with a month-on-month increase of 3% in gross gambling yield (GGY), and a 7% increase in active accounts.<\/p>\n According to the UKGC, the impact from a lack of tier-one sporting events was \u2018clearly visible in August\u2019 with GGY decreasing by 21% from July. However, sports return in September increased real event GGY by 15% from August to nearly \u00a3190 million.<\/p>\n In addition, the number of bets placed on real betting events grew by 5%, while the number of active customers increased by 14%.<\/p>\n For betting shops, over-the-counter (OTC) activity also increased in September with both the number of bets and GGY growing by 3% and 2% respectively since August.<\/p>\n The UKGC noted that the distribution of activity among products had shifted slightly, with retail betting accounting for 39% of all GGY, a slight decrease on August\u2019s figure.<\/p>\n In its update, the regulator noted: \u201cGambling behaviours have continued to evolve as the country responds to varying levels of restrictions and we will remain vigilant in light of new national lockdowns announced in recent weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Commission continues to track Covid-19 related risk by assessing the impact of the strengthened guidance issued to operators, collecting and publishing the data being gathered, supporting the industry as land-based premises begin to open, and where evidence identifies additional risks faced by consumers, taking further action to protect consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n