Gambling Licences and Industry Data Northern Ireland 2023
Analytics Division
2024-08-22
2023
A Official
Statistics publication
Published by:
Analytics Division, Department for Communities
Frequency: Annual
Publication Date: 29 August 2024
Key Points
In 2023, there were 114 amusement permits covering 6,457 gaming machines with a maximum £25 payout and 24 amusement permits covering 885 gaming machines with a maximum £8 payout.
There were 37 bingo club licences operational in 2023.
In 2023, the number of bookmaking office licences that were operational was 285 and the number of bookmakers’ licences that were operational was 103.
There were 2,240 employees in the gambling sector in 2022.
Gambling turnover was £228.1 million in 2022, while the revenue from betting and gaming duty was £77 million in 2022-23.
Introduction
Among other policy areas, the Department for Communities (DfC) has strategic responsibility for the development of policy and legislation on gambling in Northern Ireland. Gambling in Northern Ireland is currently regulated by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
This is the second compendium of statistics containing information on a range of areas relating to gambling in Northern Ireland published by the Department for Communities (DfC). The compendium will be updated annually. Data tables are available in Excel and ODS format.
Note: We would welcome any feedback or comments from users.
Lead Statistician: Neil Marsden
Amusement permits, gaming machines and gaming machine certificates
There are two types of permits for amusement premises with gaming machines, a permit with a maximum payout of £25 in cash directly from the gaming machine and a permit where the maximum value of a prize is £8, which can be paid in cash, tokens exchangeable for a non-monetary prize or a combination of cash and tokens.
In 2023, there were 114 amusement permits covering 6,457 gaming machines with a £25 payout. While the number of amusement permits has decreased compared with the 2022 figures (119 amusement permits), the number of gaming machines covered has increased (5,901 gaming machines in 2022). For the £8 amusement permits, 24 were issued covering 855 gaming machines. Both figures show an increase when compared with 2022 (18 permits covering 377 gaming machines).
A gaming machine certificate permits the holder to supply and maintain gaming machines and their mechanisms. In 2023, there were 31 gaming machines certificates operational, a decrease from 41 in 2022.
Lottery certificates and society lotteries
A lottery certificate allows the holder to act as an external lottery consultant or manager. In 2023, two lottery certificates were operational.
Society lotteries are lotteries promoted on behalf of a society for charitable purposes (for example in support of a sports club). In 2023, 124 existing society lottery licences were renewed and 52 new society lottery licences were granted.
Track betting licences
Track betting licences are issued by DfC and are valid for seven years, provided an annual fee is paid on the anniversary of the licence issue date. After seven years, the licence expires and the track has the option to apply again for a licence, paying a licence fee when applying. No annual fee is paid in the year in which the licence is applied for.
In 2023, track betting licences covered two horse racing tracks and two dog racing tracks.
Bingo clubs, bookmaking offices and bookmakers’ licences
Bingo club licences, bookmaking office licences and bookmakers’ licences are issued by county courts and are valid for one year.
In 2023, the number of bingo club licences that were operational was 37, a slight increase from 36 in 2022.
A bookmaking office licence is necessary for a licenced bookmaker to run a bookmaking office. There were 285 bookmaking office licences in 2023, a slight increase from 279 in 2022.
The number of bookmakers’ licences that were operational in 2023 was 103, the same as in 2022.
VAT and PAYE Registered gambling businesses
In 2023 there were 80 VAT or PAYE registered gambling businesses in Northern Ireland, down from 85 in 2022. The number of registered gambling businesses has fallen over the last 10 years, from 95 in 2013 to 80 in 2023.
Number of people employed in the gambling industry in Northern Ireland
In 2022, there was a total of 2,240 people employed in the gambling and betting activities industry, up from 2,185 in 2021.
Full-time jobs within the gambling and betting activities industry decreased from a high of 1,506 in 2009 to a low of 1,255 in 2022.
The number of part-time employees in the gambling and betting activities industry had been rising steadily between 2009 and 2017, from 917 to 1,236. It fell in 2019 and 2021, but then increased in 2023. In 2023, the number of part time employees stood at 986.
Gambling turnover in Northern Ireland
Business turnover for land-based gambling and betting operators in Northern Ireland has fallen since 2016. The latest turnover estimate of £228.1 million in 2022 shows it has fallen by two-thirds since 2018, when it was estimated at £684.5 million. This does not include data for online gambling operators who do not have headquarters in Northern Ireland.
Betting and Gaming Duty for Northern Ireland
Betting and Gaming Duty in Northern Ireland was estimated at £36 million for the 1999-2000 financial year. Looking at the longer term, this figure shows considerable fluctuation, ranging from £19 million in 2005-06 and 2006-07, to a peak of £85 million in 2015-16. In 2022-23 it stood at £77 million.
Definitions and notes
Data sources
This statistical compendium makes use of a mixture of administrative data and survey data. Administrative data in relation to amusement arcade permits and the number of gaming machines is provided by each of the eleven Local Government District Councils. Administrative data in relation to the number of gambling licences held by bingo clubs, bookmaking offices and bookmakers’ licences is provided by Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Services.
Data on track betting licences is available from the Department for Communities who are responsible for the issue of such licences.
Data on VAT or PAYE registered gambling businesses is taken from the Inter Departmental Business Register (NISRA), with figures rounded to the nearest 5 due to disclosure. Please click here for Quality and Methodology Information.
Data on the number of people employed in gambling and betting activities is taken from the Business Register and Employment Survey (NISRA). Please click here for Quality and Methodology Information.
Data on business turnover for land-based gambling and betting operators was provided on request to the producers of the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (NISRA) and is based on a sample of businesses. The NIABI sample is stratified by industry sector and size of business, with all large businesses being surveyed each year. However, not all businesses respond. This is normally reported at a higher Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code level, rather than by individual SIC code. As such, caution should be exercised when using these figures as they will be based on a smaller subset of businesses within the sample. Please note that as online gambling operators may not be based in Northern Ireland, or have their head office here, they will not be included in any sample. Business Turnover is calculated based on the total value of sales and work completed by the business. Please click here for further information on the Quality and Methodology.
Data on betting and gaming duty is taken from County and regional public sector finance UK (Office for National Statistics). Betting and Gaming Duty is estimated based on the Living Costs and Food Survey which gathers data from UK households to estimate average spend across the UK. Betting and Gaming Duties consist of seven individual duties:
- Bingo Duty - paid by bingo premises licence holders
- Gaming Duty - paid by casino operators
- General Betting Duty - paid by bookmakers
- Lottery Duty - paid by individuals purchasing lottery tickets
- Machine Games Duty - paid by operators of machines that give cash prizes
- Pool Betting Duty - paid by pool betting licence holders
- Remote gaming Duty - paid by online gaming providers
It is noted that expenditure on National Lottery spend, particularly scratch cards, is under-recorded so caution should be exercised when using these figures. Please click here for further information on the Quality and Methodology.
User Engagement
This is the second time that a compendium report in relation to gambling has been published by DfC. We would welcome any comments and feedback via our User engagement survey. Thank you in advance.
Official Statistics
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.