Wetherspoons slot machines: pub giant sees gambling revenues soar despite overall slump in profits

The one silver lining for JD Wetherspoon in their half-year report, which revealed that operating profit fell by 4%, was their growing revenue from slot machines.

With their slot and fruit machines bringing in an impressive £35.5 million in the first half of FY25, revenues from gambling became the chain’s biggest earner behind food and beverages.

The experts at Slots UK have looked into why slot machine revenues continue to rise for the nation’s favourite budget-friendly pub operator. 

Spoons’ Slot Revenue Grows At Quicker Rate Than Food & Drink

With slot revenue growth at 12.4% over the last year, this has outstripped food and drink at 5.4% and 4.3%, respectively.

This upward trend has contributed to Wetherspoons experiencing a 60% increase in revenue from slot/fruit machines over the last six years.

Although undoubtedly impressive, the figure of £35.5 million earned from slot machines is small compared to the huge £589 million spent on drinks in Wetherspoons over the past six months.

The 45-year-old company has built its reputation on its value-for-money food and drink offerings, and despite the recent surge in slot revenues, the combo of cheap beverages and affordable grub remains its bread and butter.

How Slot Machines Became A Wetherspoons Staple

There’s no doubt slot machines are synonymous with British boozers. For decades, they have provided entertainment for UK pub goers who have inserted coins and notes into the machine, hoping to win the jackpot.

In terms of Wetherspoons, though, slot machines have been slow burners. It is only recently that they’ve risen to become a genuine money-maker for the company founded in 1979 by Tim Martin.

Despite the ever increasing general cost of going out for food and drinks in the UK, Wetherspoons has managed to keep its prices low. There is a suggestion, however, that slot machines are, therefore, offering better margins for the chain at present.

Why Are People Still Playing Physical Slot Machines?

In an age where online casinos offer hundreds of games and instant access on mobile, why are people still dropping coins into machines at the pub?

There’s a social and tactile element to traditional slots that online play can’t replicate. The sounds, lights, and physical presence of a machine—along with the low-stakes fun of it—remain a draw for many.

Online casinos might have the advantage of enticing players with free spin offers and the convenience of playing slot games in the comfort of their own homes, but many people in the UK still look forward to venturing out to play traditional slot machines.

A Sign of What’s to Come for the Pub Industry?

As pubs adapt to a changing economic landscape, could we see more of them leaning into slot and gaming machine revenue?

Wetherspoons’ recent figures may serve as a wake-up call to the wider hospitality industry: in tough times, gambling terminals may become a more central pillar of the modern British pub.

But this raises important questions about responsible gambling in casual settings. While slot machines in pubs are tightly regulated under the Gambling Act 2005, and age-restricted, the increase in usage suggests a need for continuous monitoring and safe gambling messaging.

Final Thoughts

Wetherspoons may still be best known for its cheap drinks and fry-ups, but its gambling machines are telling a new story - one of a pub chain evolving with the times and finding profit in unexpected places.

Whether this trend spreads across other chains remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: the humble pub slot machine is far from obsolete.