Indeed, the Queen Elizabeth II herself is known to enjoy the odd 'flutter', as British people like to say, at Royal Ascot, the country's most famous annual racing event.Ĭasinos have also been around for several decades and are dotted around the country, so it was no surprise when online gambling started to become popular at the turn of the 21st century. Gambling has been a popular pastime in the United Kingdom for centuries, with betting on sports such as horse racing playing a significant role in British culture.