The Gambling Commission have just published their annual industry statistics. It is particularly significant since it covers the period during and post Covid. Since greyhound racing – as we know it – could not survive without gambling, there is some significant and concerning data in there writes Floyd Amphlett.
Although ‘non-remote gambling’ yield – which includes racecourses and betting shops – has increased in the last year, to £2.128bn, from £1.035bn, that was inevitable given the previous year included lockdowns.
The bigger picture is bleak.
For example, for the year ending March 2019, betting shop yield was £3.262bn. A month later, the FOBT jackpot limit was introduced and by year end, the yield had fallen to £2.415bn. Taking that as the benchmark, and taking Covid out of the picture, the latest represents an 11.9% decrease even on that low point.
There were – at the time of collation in March – 6,219 betting shops. (Remember when we used to talk about 10,000?) That is a 19% reduction in two years and those numbers continue to fall. I’m told that Ladbrokes shut 80 shops last week alone.
There has been growth in ‘remote’ or internet betting, but nothing to get too excited about. In the last year, it inevitably fell from its Covid height –when locked down punters were forced to bet on-line – from £2.64bn to £2.34bn. But it had stood at £2.32 before Covid. Not exactly mega growth.
On-line is now officially bigger than ‘shop’ betting, but here is a sobering thought. In 2012 on-line casino betting was £42m and betting turnover was £887m. On-line casino betting is now £3.89bn.
However, the importance of these figures becomes relevant when you compare the importance of greyhound racing to the betting industry.
In the betting shops (above), greyhound racing accounts for 12% of betting shop yield. (Football 32%, Horse racing 37%). This is the most important factor in the financing of the industry.
However ‘the dogs’ accounts for just 3.5% of on-line ‘betting’ compared to 32.% for horses and 46% for football.
