Northern Ireland had 276 operational bookmaking office licences in 2025, down from 280 in 2024 and 285 in 2023, according to official statistics published by the Department for Communities.
The annual compendium, released on 21 October, also recorded 103 operational bookmakers’ licences, compared with 106 a year earlier. Bingo club licences totalled 37, broadly consistent with previous years.
Gaming machine figures reflected a change in maximum permitted payouts from £25 ($29.8) to £500 in January 2025. There were 110 amusement permits covering 6,493 machines in the £500 category, alongside 13 permits covering 499 machines with an £8 maximum payout.
The department cautioned against direct comparisons with earlier years because permit categories had changed. Machine totals also incorporated 2024 figures for Causeway Coast and Glens, where newer data were unavailable.
Employment figures, covering 2024, showed 2,047 people working in gambling and betting activities, down from 2,241 in 2022. The total comprised 1,188 full-time and 859 part-time employees.
The detailed turnover section reported land-based gambling and betting business turnover of £206.9m for 2024, slightly above 2023 but almost three-quarters below the £760.7m estimated for 2016.
These sample-based figures exclude online operators without Northern Ireland headquarters and require caution because of the limited business sample.
Estimated betting and gaming duty reached £89m in 2024/25. This measure includes land-based and remote duties and is apportioned from UK totals using estimated household spending, rather than representing directly recorded regional receipts.
The publication also recorded 85 VAT- or PAYE-registered gambling businesses in 2026, rounded to the nearest five. Track betting licences covered two horseracing and two dog racing venues.
The figures follow Communities Minister Gordon Lyons’ statement that a comprehensive gambling Bill can't be introduced during the current Assembly mandate. His department is gathering evidence and developing policy to support future legislation.
Separately, Northern Ireland’s Gambling Support Group has launched a confidential SMS pilot with football organisations, connecting players and staff with peer support and professional assistance.
The compendium combines different reporting periods, including 2025 licensing figures, 2024 employment and turnover data, and 2026 business counts
