How has the affordability of visiting online casinos changed in 2025?

Gone are the days when you had to fight traffic for an hour and pay tolls each way and another fee for parking before you could access a casino. Betting at brick-and-mortar casinos can become very costly, very quickly. Some centres require a hefty minimum betting amount before you can access tickets for free drinks, and at times, the minimum betting amount for your favourite game may be a tad higher than you can afford.

Today, casinos have brought their services right to the hands of Britons with the advent of the internet. But even though you can skip traffic and not have to deal with any additional casino fees, betting at online casinos can still be expensive. This is especially true when considering minimum betting amounts and wagering requirements. However, online casinos have consistently lowered cost-related barriers to online gambling, and the stats prove it.

Online gambling in the UK

Over the course of five years, starting from 2020, online casinos have contributed over $27.92 billion to the gambling industry’s revenue in the UK. UK online casinos are projected to bring in an additional $6.69 billion in 2025, higher than previous years. This represents just a fraction of the UK online gambling industry, which consists of online casinos, online lotteries and online sports betting.

The UK is the second-top online gambling nation as of 2024, with a projected revenue of about £11.01 billion (€12.80 billion). The UK is second only to the United States and registers more users year on year. Britons are shifting towards online casinos due to convenience, affordability and easier accessibility. These factors have increased online gambling participation in the UK, with gambling revenues expected to climb by up to 3.84% per year from 2024 to 2028.

How affordability of online casinos has changed in the UK

A particular survey in 2024 showed that one-third of Brits placed a bet within a four week period. The high participation observed in the UK is tied mainly to how affordable online betting is. Here are the factors contributing to the increased affordability of online casinos:

1. Pandemic drawbacks
   Online casinos witnessed increased patronage from Brits as traditional casino activities halted due to restrictions on movement. Popular gambling events like horse racing and cricket were missing in action, but not entirely. The online casino industry afforded users a similar betting experience to traditional casinos, only this time, the entry cost was much lower. And although traditional casinos are again open for in-person visits, data shows that more Brits prefer betting online.
2. Lower operational costs
   Companies running online casinos spend less on operations, affording the company the opportunity to allocate resources to other business needs. Online casinos spend more on advertising as a result and offer much more in terms of rewards than on-site casinos. Users get to enjoy free bets and a higher number of bonus bets compared to the non-digital alternative, making it more affordable when looking at the big picture. Additionally, for a lower cost, online bettors can explore multiple games and options, an advantage many bettors will continue to leverage for a more affordable betting experience in 2025.
3. Introduction of low cost to entry online casinos
   More Britons are exploring online gambling in the UK due to an increase in affordability. This trend is expected to continue in 2025 as more online casinos with lower barriers to entry join the UK online gambling space. One of these is the rapidly rising no-deposit online casino that allows players to bet, win free spins and hit jackpots without depositing any money. Although no-deposit online casinos are not so common, low deposits are commonplace.

   Low-deposit casinos, which can be found at https://www.newcasinos.com/minimum-deposit/, require a lower minimum deposit for players to start betting. For as low as £1 to £5, UK players can fund their betting account and place their bets. Low-deposit casinos allow players to bet a lower amount of money per bet, allowing players of all income levels the opportunity to access gambling services.

4. Mobile gambling
   Mobile gambling is on the rise as smartphones increase accessibility for bettors to gamble on the go. The convenience that mobile betting offers means that visits to on-site casinos are declining. Online casinos support online payments that make it easy to fund accounts and withdraw winnings. Additionally, many online casinos offer free spins and bonuses exclusive to mobile app users. Mobile casinos provide access to more affordable betting options compared to playing craps or baccarat at a betting shop.
5. Enactment of favourable gambling laws
   Online betting is also witnessing more of a surge in participants due to the tax benefits surrounding it. Gambling wins are tax free in the UK, acting as an incentive for players to keep betting higher. The UK government has also set up laws to protect players, improving bettors’ confidence in patronising online casinos. If you’ve been reading the latest casino news, you’ll have come across the latest law enacted by the UK government to regulate online gambling. As of 2025, adults under 25 years are limited to a £2 betting amount, while those over 25 can place £5 bets.

Bottom line

Due to the increasing affordability of online casinos, visits to physical casino locations are dwindling. In 2025, the UK ranks second in the online gambling industry, showing the growing trend of bettors swapping on-site for online casinos.

Article by Ross Johnson