As of 2025, 9% of the UK population actively participates in online sports betting, while 10% engage in all forms of betting.
The UK sports betting market generates £2.48 billion annually in gross gambling yield, making it the leading gambling activity, with 47% of gamblers participating.
Football dominates the betting world, accounting for £1.1 billion in gross gambling yield and attracting 5.8% of the population.
With 290.03 million online bets placed monthly on real events, sports betting outpaces other forms of gambling, except for the lottery, demonstrating its massive popularity among British punters.
These statistics reveal a thriving industry, so let’s get into these details now.
Sports Betting UK Statistics – Top Picks
- In 2025, 9% of the UK population engages in online sports betting.
- The gross gambling yield from remote betting in the UK in 2025 is £2.4 billion.
- Football is the most popular sport for betting, generating £1.1 billion in GGY.
- 290 million online bets are placed monthly in the UK.
- 15% of men vs 4% of women in the UK place sports bets (Q1 2025).
How Many People Are Into Sports Betting In UK?
- As of 2025, 9% of the British public participates in online sports betting.
- Meanwhile, 10% engage in all forms of betting activities combined.
Here is a quick breakdown:
| Participation Rate | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Share of British public participating in online sports betting | 9% |
| Overall participation in betting activities | 10% |
| UK bettors who bet at online sports bookmaker (past 12 months) | 47% |
Source: Statista, Betting Spot, YouGov
UK Sports Betting & Gambling Market Stats
- As of 2025, the UK sports betting market generates £2.48 billion in gross gambling yield annually, making it a leader in the global betting market. (Statista)
- The UK online sports betting market globally is valued at $4.21 billion. (Statista)
Here is the breakdown of the betting market in the UK & where sports betting stands:
| Market Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Market size of online sports betting industry in UK | $4.21 billion |
| GGY for remote betting (April 2023-March 2024) | £2.4 billion |
| Total GGY for Remote Casino, Betting and Bingo Sector | £6.9 billion |
| Monthly GGY of online betting market in UK | £233.7 million GBP |
- Between April 2023 and March 2024, remote betting in the UK generated £2.4 billion in gross gambling yield.
- The total gross gambling yield for UK remote casino, betting, and bingo reached £6.9 billion by April 2024.
- In November 2024, the UK online betting market reported a monthly gross gambling yield of £233.7 million.
How Popular Is Sports Betting In The UK?
- As of 2025, around 290.03 million online bets on real events were placed monthly in the UK. (Statista)
- Sports betting ranks as the leading type of gambling activity in the UK, with 47% of gamblers indulging in it.
- This is second only to the Lottery in overall participation, at merely 37%. (YouGov)
| Popularity Ranking In UK Population | Activity | Participation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Most popular gambling activity | Online sports betting | 47% |
| Sports betting participation | All betting activities | 10% |
| Football betting specifically | Football betting | 5.8% |
(YouGov, Betting Spot)
What Sport Is Most Bet On In The UK?
- Football is by far the most bet-on sport in the UK, generating £1.1 billion in gross gambling yield and representing the most popular betting choice among British punters.
- Amongst all the gamblers in the UK, 5.8% of the population indulges in football betting.
Here is the breakdown of the sport that is the most bet on in the UK:
| Sport | GGY/Participation |
|---|---|
| Football (remote betting GGY) | £1.1 billion |
| Football betting participation | 5.8% of the population |
| Horse racing (remote betting GGY) | £771.1 million |
| Annual turnover of off course soccer betting | £1.58 billion |
(Gambling Commission, Betting Spot, Statista)
- To be more precise, in Q1 of 2025, Live football is the most popular sport for betting, with 6% of all UK adults placing bets on it. (Gambling Commission)
Gambling Statistics UK: Demographic Breakdown
- As of 2025, about 47% of UK adults aged 16 and over have participated in some form of gambling.
- Men in the UK have a higher gambling participation rate, with 51% reporting they have gambled. In comparison, 49% women in the survey reported participation in betting or gambling.
- Male participation in sports betting in the UK Q1 is significantly higher, with 15% of men placing bets compared to just 4% of women.
Here is a breakdown of sports gambling in the UK based on the overall population, gender, and various popular betting options in Q1 of 2025:
| No | Sport/Betting Type | Overall Participation | Male Participation | Female Participation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live football | 6% | 11% | 2% |
| 2 | Betting in-play (any event/sport) | 4% | 7% | 1% |
| 3 | Live horse or dog racing | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| 4 | Other live sports | 1% | 2% | 0% |
| 5 | Live tennis | 0.5% | 1% | 0% |
| 6 | Betting exchange | 1% | 2% | 0% |
- 50% of bettors in the UK confirmed that they access online gambling via mobile phones.
- A vast majority, 95% of UK online gambling takes place from the comfort of one’s own home.
- The 18–24-year-old age group in the UK reported the highest use of mobile phones for gambling at 76%.
Here is an estimated distribution of mobile gambling users by age group:
| Age Group | % Share of Total Mobile Gambling Users |
|---|---|
| 18–24 | 32% |
| 25–34 | 24% |
| 35–44 | 18% |
| 45–54 | 12% |
| 55–64 | 9% |
| 65+ | 5% |
(Gambling Commission, Gambling Commission)
Is Gambling A Big Problem In The UK?
- Gambling addiction costs the UK economy an estimated £260 million to £1.2 billion every year.
- Gambling participation in the UK is high, but only 0.5% of gamblers fall into the high-risk problem gambling category.
| Problem Gambling Metric | Rate/Cost |
|---|---|
| Gamblers in problem (high-risk) group | 0.5% |
| Gamblers in moderate-risk group | 0.8% |
| Gamblers in low-risk group | 2.7% |
- Approximately 3.1% of UK gamblers admit to betting more money than they can afford to lose.
- Around 5% of UK gamblers have used self-exclusion tools at some point.
- Nearly 73% of UK adults believe gambling poses a danger to family life.
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Conclusion: 9% Brits Bet On Sports Online In 2025, With Football Yielding £1.1 Bn
Sports betting in the UK remains highly popular in 2025, with nearly 1 in 10 people betting online and football leading the charts.
The market generates £2.4 billion annually in GGY from remote betting, with football alone contributing £1.1 billion. Mobile phones dominate the access method, especially among 18–to 24-year-olds, who make up 32% of mobile bettors.
Despite the popularity, only 0.5% fall under the problem gambling category. Monthly, UK users place over 290 million online bets.
In conclusion, sports betting is deeply ingrained in UK culture, with men accounting for 15% of participation and mobile platforms driving the surge.
