Xmas Drop

What is Xmas Drop?

Gaming machines in arcades recorded £800.1 million in GGY (up 10.7%), mainly across adult gaming centres (£761.4 million, +11.3%). Gaming machines overall contributed £2.7 billion to GGY, reflecting a 4.3% uplift. 

The number of gaming machines in licensed premises in the final quarter was reported at 191,804.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham recent proposed a package of measures that would repeal the established “aim to permit” rule for betting shops and 24-hour slot machine arcades across Great Britain, removing a presumption in favour of granting permission for such venues. 

What is Xmas Drop?

Based on its projections, EKG sees the overall sports wagering industry growing 8% year-over-year, outpacing the current baseline growth rate of 5% (a figure that strips out temporary boosts from the 2026 World Cup).

Assuming that 8% spurt is realized, it’d be impressive because since the end of the 2025 football season, only Missouri and Alberta, Canada joined the live and legal sports betting party with Arkansas opening to DraftKings and FanDuel earlier this year.

Prediction markets have proven effective at attracting sharp bettors and high-rollers who are often limited or banned by traditional sportsbooks. However, consumer surveys indicate that when given the choice between a sportsbook and a yes/no exchange, most recreational bettors still prefer the traditional sportsbook interface. That dynamic helps explain why prediction markets remain in second place.

How to play Xmas Drop

Looking ahead, industry leaders believe the next phase of DEI will be less about standalone initiatives and more about embedding inclusion into everyday business decisions.

Yaxley hopes DEI will become “a fundamental part of how organisations operate”, with technology and people analytics helping businesses to make fairer, evidence-based decisions on talent.

“Ultimately, I hope the conversation evolves from representation alone to a stronger focus on belonging,” she says. “Diverse teams are important, but lasting progress comes when people feel valued, heard and able to contribute fully.”