With the growth of internet access throughout the nation, people are increasingly participating in digital entertainment in a range of forms, including gaming, streaming, and social media.
According to the National Survey for Wales, conducted between April 2012 and March 2013, the percentage of households with internet access rose from 70% to 73% between 2012 and 2013. Ofcom reported that this statistic reached 96% in January 2025, with full-fibre becoming available to 74% of households, a 6% increase compared to September 2024.
Compared to global figures, iGaming is a highly popular form of digital entertainment in Wales. As per the National Survey from 2022-23, which asked people over 18 years of age about their gambling activities, 11% of individuals in Wales participated in online gambling. At the same time, 26% of the global population was estimated to partake in gambling, and 9.6% of gamblers played online.
Players in Wales can find rankings of online casinos performed by reliable institutions, and according to these rankings, the Welsh have access to reputable platforms with a high level of security, equipped with excellent software.
Much like gambling, watching videos is increasingly being done online. The following data is based on an Ofcom report from 2025.
Out of Welsh households that watch TV, 88% connect their TV to the internet.
People in Wales spend more time using video-on-demand services than all other UK nations, with the average person spending 30 minutes a day using BVoD, and 50 minutes a day using SVoD and AVoD. Netflix is the most-watched SVoD, accounting for 8% of total video viewing.
YouTube is the most popular video-sharing platform, and accounts for 12% of total viewing. Out of adults aged up to 34, 69% watch YouTube weekly, an increase from 60% of individuals aged 4+ in 2024. Short videos are more popular than long videos, and “how-to” videos, such as recipes and DIY tutorials, are the most viewed type of content on YouTube, with 49% having watched this type of video. The second most-viewed type of content is music videos (which are the most popular in other UK nations), with 47% having reported watching them.
Spotify is the most widely used online service for listening to music, accounting for 66% of music streaming. That said, its popularity has decreased since 2024, when its share in music streaming was 74%. At the same time, other music streaming services have increased in use. Apple Music’s share of total music streaming has risen to 15% from 4% in the previous year.
Listening to podcasts is growing in popularity, with 19.4% of individuals listening to podcasts weekly, up from 11.0% in 2019.
Lastly, social media is not only used for communication but also for entertainment. According to a report published in 2020 by Bangor University, approximately 8 in 10 people aged 16+ used social media. Out of these, 63% used social media for viewing video content, and 36% used it for photo content.