Gambling, as an activity, has always evolved in response to human tastes, technological developments, and other factors. In 2026, the most dominant forms of gambling can be largely divided into online and in-person options. In-person gambling had been the only form of gambling available for centuries, but now, thanks to technology, there is the option to enjoy virtually every form from the comfort of your home, or even on the go.
But which form of gambling are Londoners most taking to? As the industry continues to unravel in 2026 and beyond, there are several factors to consider.
What the Stats Say
The UK is always an interesting place to study gambling because it is so popular here. According to statistics, about 48% of UK adults engage in one form of gambling or another, and this includes casino games, lotteries, and much more.
According to statistics, in-person gambling has been seeing a consistent decline in the UK over the last few years, while online gambling has been increasing. This is similar to trends we’ve seen all around the world, where there’s great emphasis on betting online rather than going into a physical location. This can be attributed to several factors:
● Accessibility and Convenience
One of the first and most prominent reasons why online casinos are so popular is due to the accessibility and convenience they offer. When it comes to physical gambling, you are limited only to the locations that you can access physically. If you live in London, you can’t bet on the casino outside of the UK unless you physically go to it.
But if you’re betting online, UK casinos not on GamStop are very easily available to you, and for many consumers, this level of access is priceless. It’s also handy to be able to bet whenever and however you want. Typically, you are subject to the opening hours of the local betting shop. But as most of us know, online casino websites don’t have a closing time, and you can bet whenever you want to. Whether you’re at home, hanging out with friends, or even travelling, you can access your favorite casino games at any time.
● Variety
Even the biggest casinos in the world can only hold thousands of gaming machines at a time. Even with this, a land-based gaming machine can only accommodate a fixed number of customers at a certain time, so there’s no guarantee you can always play the game that you want. But what a lot of Londoners have found is that online casinos don’t have this restriction. A single site can have tens of thousands of game titles, and you couldn’t even play all of them in a single lifetime. Because they are virtual machines, there’s never any concern that someone will already be using the game you want. The endless variety means that fewer Londoners feel the need to go into physical betting shops, and this has only continued.
● Bonuses
One of the ways that online betting platforms have drawn in users is by offering the most generous bonuses possible. Some of the deposit matches, cashback, and free spins bonuses being given to customers simply cannot be found in the physical betting establishment. Even if it does, betting online means that you can compare deals across hundreds of sites to make the most of your money, and this continues to draw in players.
● Customization
Online betting, just like any other online activity, can be easily customized to players’ tastes. The use of the algorithms means that we are being offered games that we are more likely to enjoy. It also means getting an experience that feels true to us and not mass-produced for everyone. This is more difficult to replicate within a physical gambling establishment, and so, many consumers continue to turn online.
● Tech Trends
The numbers show that more of us spend time using digital devices than ever before. In fact, one study states that we will spend about a third of our lives looking at screens. Because we exist in the virtual world, almost as much as we do in the physical one, more of us will choose to engage in certain activities online if we can help it. Gambling is one of these, as many of us are likely to engage in this activity using the medium we already spend a lot of our time.
What this Means
The numbers clearly show that in-person gambling is declining in London and around the UK. The number of betting shops being closed on the high street and the increase in online gambling show no signs of stopping. However, it doesn’t mean the inevitable death of in-person gambling, as it will always be the desire to engage with others in the material world, and for places like Las Vegas and Monaco, the appeal of in-person gambling will likely always exist.
At the same time, Londoners and other gambling consumers around the world will likely rely more on the online space, and as more technological innovations come through, the experience will be enhanced.
