Key Points

  • In 2025, there were 110 amusement permits covering 6,493 gaming machines with a maximum £500 payout1 and 13 amusement permits covering 499 gaming machines with a maximum £8 payout.2

  • There was one operational lottery certificate in 2025, unchanged from 2024.

  • There were 37 bingo club licences operational in 2025.

  • In 2025, the number of bookmaking office licences that were operational was 276 and the number of bookmakers’ licences that were operational was 103.

  • Gambling turnover was £206.9 million in 2025.

1Note that a change in legislation meant that the maximum payout from gaming machines rose in January 2025 from £25 to £500 which is reflected in the change in permit types.
2Total number of gaming machines is for 2025 except for Causeway Coast and Glens LGD where 2024 totals were the latest available.

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 fourth 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.

Statisticians: Carly Gordon, Krisztina Gӧde

Amusement permits, gaming machines and gaming machine certificates

Under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which was enacted in April 2024, there were two types of permits for amusement premises with gaming machines. One permit allowed a maximum cash payout of £25 directly from the gaming machine. The other permitted a maximum prize value of £8, which could be paid in cash, tokens exchangeable for a non-monetary prize, or a combination of cash and tokens. However, in January 2025 legislative changes (Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025) meant that maximum payouts from gaming machines were increased to £500, so gaming machine permits were changed to align with this. As a result of this change, comparisons between gaming machine licence data for 2025 and those for earlier years should be made with caution.

In 2025, 110 amusement permits were issued for gaming machines with a £500 maximum payout, covering a total of 6,493 gaming machines. Additionally, 13 permits were issued for machines with an £8 maximum pay-out, covering 499 gaming machines. Both the number of £8 permits and the number of gaming machines covered by these permits have declined since 2023.

Figure 1: Number of amusement permits 2021-2025

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Source: Local Councils

Figure 2: Number of amusement gaming machines 2021-20253

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Source: Local Government District Councils
3Totals of gaming machines for Northern Ireland between 2021and 2024 exclude data from Ards and North Down Borough Council for both types of permits. For 2025, the number of gaming machines for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is based on the 2024 count, as this was the most recent figure available at the time of publication.

A gaming machine certificate permits the holder to supply and maintain gaming machines and their mechanisms. In 2025, there were 29 gaming machines certificates operational, a small decrease to that recorded in 2024 (32).

Lottery certificates and society lotteries

A lottery certificate allows the holder to act as an external lottery consultant or manager. In 2025, only one lottery certificate was operational.

Society lotteries are lotteries promoted on behalf of a society for charitable purposes (for example in support of a sports club). In 2025, 185 existing society lottery licences were renewed, and 53 new society lottery licences were granted. Both figures represent an increase from 2023, where the number of existing society lottery licences was 124 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 2025, track betting licences covered two horse racing tracks and two dog racing tracks, the same number as in the previous years.

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 2025, the number of bingo club licences that were operational was 37, similar to the numbers in the previous years.

A bookmaking office licence is necessary for a licensed bookmaker to run a bookmaking office. There were 276 bookmaking office licences in 2025, another small decrease as has been seen in the last two years from 285 in 2023 to 280 in 2024.

The number of bookmakers’ licences that were operational in 2025 was 103, a slight decrease from 106 in 2024, but similar to the numbers in 2023 and 2022.

Figure 3: Number of bookmaking offices, bookmakers’ licences and bingo clubs 2021-2025

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Source: Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS)

VAT and PAYE registered gambling businesses

The Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR)4 is a comprehensive list of UK businesses used by government for statistical purposes. In 2026 there were 85 VAT or PAYE registered gambling businesses in Northern Ireland according to the IDBR. The number of gambling business in Northern Ireland has remained fairly consistent over the last six years.

4It should be noted that outputs from the IDBR are rounded to the nearest 5 so changes shown in the following chart may not be to the same scale in real terms.

Figure 4: Number of VAT and PAYE registered gambling businesses operating in Northern Ireland

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Source: Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR), NISRA

Number of people employed in the gambling industry

In 2024, there was a total of 2,047 people employed in the gambling and betting activities industry, a decrease when compared with 2022 (2,241).

Full-time jobs within the gambling and betting activities industry continued the general downward trend, from 1,506 in 2009 to 1,188 in 2024.

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. However, despite an increase in 2022, the overall trend since 2017 has been one of decline. In 2024, the number of part-time employees stood at 859, lower than the level recorded in 2009.

Figure 5: Number of people employed in the gambling industry in Northern Ireland

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Source: Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), NISRA

Gambling turnover

Business turnover for land-based gambling and betting operators in Northern Ireland has fallen since 2016, but in more recent years has shown some level of stability with a small rise in 2024 to £206.9m compared with 2023. However, turnover remains substantially below the 2016 estimate of £760.7 million and has fallen by almost three-quarters over the period. These figures do not include data for online gambling operators who do not have headquarters in Northern Ireland.

Some legislative changes may help to at least partly explain the variations in turnover.

The initial notable drop in turnover in 2019 followed voluntary alignment of some land-based gambling premises in Northern Ireland with changes in Great Britain legislation (The Gaming Machine (miscellaneous amendments and revocation)Regulations 2018) which passed in 2018 but were implemented in Great Britain in 2019. This included capping maximum stakes at £2 which was previously capped at £100, potentially having a notable impact on turnover.

There then followed the Northern Ireland specific Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 which included updates that could both negatively and positively impact turnover, such as permitting 7 days a week opening for bookmakers and an extension of operational hours for bingo halls, alongside restrictions on under-18 olds playing high-limit gaming machines.

Figure 6: Gambling turnover (£millions)

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Source: Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (NIABI), NISRA

Betting and Gaming Duty

Betting and Gaming Duty in Northern Ireland was estimated at £89 million for the 2024-25 financial year, the highest level recorded over the data period.

Some changes in legislation coincided with large increase in duties in the years since 2013-14. On 1 February 2013 the UK introduced the Machine Games Duty (MGD) which broadened and restructured the taxation of gaming-machine activity across the UK. In December of that year the Gambling Tax Reform and Finance Act 2014 was introduced. This effectively changed the taxation basis for remote gambling from “place of supply” to “place of consumption” which meant many operators based overseas had to pay tax based on the location of their customer base.

Alongside the introduction of these legislative changes, betting and gaming duties rose to a new level from 2013-14 onwards.

Figure 7: Betting and gaming duty (£ millions) - 2013 to 2025

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Source: Country and regional public sector finances UK, Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Definitions and notes

Data sources

This statistical compendium makes use of a mixture of administrative data and survey data. For most data sources the information presented is for 2025, however, for some sources earlier years are the most up-to-date available, while for the number of gambling businesses 2026 data is available. These are indicated in the detail below.

Administrative data in relation to amusement arcade permits is provided by each of the eleven Local Councils, while the number of gaming machines is provided by ten out of the eleven Local 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. Latest figures available are for 2026. 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). Latest figures available are for 2024. 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). Latest figures available are for 2024-25. ONS apportions out the UK total Betting and Gaming duties across regions based on household spend in this area, which is estimated using data from the Living Costs and Food Survey data. Betting and Gaming Duties consist of seven individual duties including land-based and remote gambling:

  • 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.

Official Statistics

This publication contains Official Statistics. Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). Official Statistics are statistics which have not been independently reviewed by the Office for Statistical Regulation (OSR) and so are not yet accredited. 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.

DfC Analytics Division publications seek to apply the Code of Practice to ensure that outputs:

  • meet identified and intended user needs;
  • are well explained, relevant and readily accessible;
  • are produced according to sound methods, systems and processes, and
  • are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.

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.

User Engagement

We would welcome any comments and feedback on this compendium report in relation to gambling via our User Engagement Survey. Thank you in advance.

Click for definitions

The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (NI) Order 1985 (‘the 1985 order’) sets out the statutory arrangements under which betting, gaming, lotteries and amusement activities are regulated in Northern Ireland. Under the 1985 Order, how and by whom betting, gaming, lotteries and amusements are regulated vary depend on the activity itself and the venue within which it is taking place (e.g. race track, bookmaker’s office, amusement arcade, bingo club, registered club). The following definitions are taken from the 1985 Order.

Amusement permit

A permit under the Order authorising gaming by means of gaming machines in premises specified in the permit.

Bingo club

A club established and conducted for the purpose of gaming by the way of bingo.

Bingo club licence

A licence under the Order authorising gaming in premises specified in the licence.

Bookmaker’s licence

A licence under the Order authorising the holder of the licence to carry on the business of a bookmaker a) at a track or at a recognised point-to-point meeting; or b) in premises for which he holds a bookmaking office licence.

Bookmaking office licence

A licence under the Order authorising a licenced bookmaker to carry out the business of a bookmaker in premises specified in the licence.

Gaming machine

Any machine which a) is constructed or adapted for playing a game of chance by means of it; and b) has a slot or other aperture for the insertion of money in the form of cash or tokens.

Gaming machine certificate

A certificate authorising a) the supply of gaming machines; or b) the maintenance of the mechanism of gaming machines; or c) the supply and maintenance of the mechanism of gaming mahcines.

Gaming machine permit

A permit granted in relation to a gaming machine authorising a) the supply of that gaming machine; or b) the maintenance of the mechanism of that gaming machine; c) the supply and maintenance of the mechanism of that gaming machine.

Licensed bookmaker

A person who holds a bookmaker’s licence.

Licenced office

Premises in respect of which a bookmaking office licence is in force.

Licenced track

A track in respect of which a betting licence is in force.

Lottery certificate

A certificate authorising the holder of the certificate to act as an external lottery consultant or manager.

Society lottery

A lottery in which tickets or chances may be sold to the general public. ‘Society’ includes any club, institution, organisation or association of persons, by whatever name called, and any separate branch or section of such a club, institution, organisation or association. ‘Society’s lottery’ means a lottery promoted on behalf of a society established and conducted wholly or mainly for one or more of the following purposes: (a) charitable purposes; (b) participation in, or support of, athletic sports or games or cultural activities; or (c) other purposes which are not purposes of private gain or of any commercial undertaking.

Track

Premises on which horse or dog races of any description take place.

Track betting licence

A licence under Order authorising the provision of betting facilities on a track specified in the licence.

Contact Details

Published by: Analytics Division, Department for Communities

Statisticians: Carly Gordon & Krisztina Gӧde

Email: analyticsdivision@communities-ni.gov.uk