Northern Ireland gambling sector statistics published in latest annual data release

The Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) have published the latest Northern Ireland Gambling Licensing and Industry Data 2025, providing an annual snapshot of gambling licences, gaming activity and employment across the sector.

Published on 21 October 2026, the official statistics release is the fourth annual publication bringing together data on gambling licensing and the economic contribution of the industry in Northern Ireland.

The report includes information on the number of amusement permits and gaming machines, lottery certificates and society lotteries, bingo club licences, bookmaking office licences and bookmakers’ licences. It also provides data on employment within the gambling sector, betting and gaming duty revenues, and overall gambling turnover.

According to the Department for Communities, the annual publication is intended to provide a clearer picture of the gambling sector in Northern Ireland and support understanding of trends in licensing activity and the industry’s economic impact. Future statistical bulletins will continue to examine the sector’s contribution in terms of jobs, businesses and turnover.

Gambling in Northern Ireland is regulated under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, with licensing responsibilities covering a range of gambling premises and activities. Previous editions of the publication have tracked trends in amusement permits, gaming machines, bingo clubs and betting offices, alongside wider industry measures.