UK online gambling activity slowed in August, poking holes in the media narrative of crazed punters filling their pandemic void by gambling away the mortgage payment.

Figures released Wednesday by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) show every single gaming vertical reported active player declines in the month of August compared to July’s figures. The regulator attributed the decline to a variety of factors, including the loosening of pandemic restrictions opening up a wider variety of options for consumers’ discretionary spending.

The seasonal break in English Premier League football action contributed to a 10% decline in ‘real event’ sports betting active customers, while the total number of ‘real event’ wagers fell 12% from July to August. Betting revenue suffered an even bigger decline, falling 21% from July.

Online slots, the perpetual boogeyman of the UK anti-gambling media, reported active players falling 2% from July to August, while total number of slots bets fell 1% and the number of online slots sessions lasting over one hour fell 7%.