Manchester Named UK Gaming and Casino Capital

Online casino guide 6takarakuji conducted an in-depth analysis of video and casino game development studios, colleges and universities with computer science programmes, and game developers' average annual salaries across the United Kingdom's largest cities to determine which location is best for the gaming industry. 

In Manchester, the average developer salary is £49,878 per year, making it the city the gaming capital of the UK. 

There are 1,404 gaming businesses in London, making it the second-most-popular gaming hub in the world. 

When it comes to gambling, Liverpool ranks third in the UK. 

According to recent studies, Manchester has become the gaming hub of the United Kingdom. 

Online casino guide 6takarakuji conducted an in-depth analysis of video game development studios, colleges and universities with computer science programmes, and game developers' average annual salaries across the United Kingdom's largest cities to determine which location is best for the gaming industry. 

According to the findings, Manchester is the best place to go gaming in the UK. Nearly one gaming company for every 12,000 residents. From the seven institutions in Manchester that offer CS degrees, the University of Manchester is clearly the best. Local game developers can expect an annual salary of £49,878. 

London is the second most popular place in the United Kingdom to play video games. According to data from the gaming industry, London has the highest number of employees per business in the UK, at 6,268. There are 35 universities in London that offer computer science, but Imperial College London is the best. Game developers earn an average of £58,922, which is the highest salary on this list. 

The gaming scene in Liverpool is third best, after Seattle and Portland. The city is home to 26 studios, with developers making an average of £49,047 per year at places like Playrise and Thumbstar Games. There are a total of five colleges and universities in the city that offer CS programmes, with the University of Liverpool being the best. 

Cardiff is only two places behind in fourth place. With 35 gaming companies, the city is home to Gamersclub. Cardiff, the Welsh capital, is home to two universities (Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University) that offer degrees in computer science, and the average monthly salary for a game developer there is £4,071. 

Bristol is the fifth best city on this list. Included in the city's 41 gaming companies are the likes of Introvert Studios, Paper Street Games, and ColePowered, employing a combined total of 11,522 people. The city is home to two universities (University of Bristol and University of the West England Bristol) that both offer computer science programmes. The average annual salary for a game developer in the UK is £46,580. 

With a total of 33 gaming companies employing 16,788 people, Edinburgh ranks as the sixth largest gaming city in the United Kingdom. Two of Edinburgh's five universities, the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt, offer degrees in computer science. A typical annual salary for a game developer is £44,882. 

A ratio of 30,020 residents to each student at the University of Newcastle–upon–Tyne places it seventh overall. As of 2016, game developers in London averaged £43,083 per year in salary. Eleven gaming companies are located here. 

Nottingham, which is also in the same position, is home to three CS-focused universities and twenty-six video game publishers. The average salary for a game developer in Nottingham is £41,955 per year. 

With 23 gaming companies and 3 CS-offering universities, Coventry ranks #8. Leeds comes in at number nine with an average salary of £57,609 for a game developer despite a low population-to-gaming-company ratio of 50,750 to one. 

A representative from 6takarakuji reviewed the research and said, "This study reveals that people looking for a career in the gaming industry are spoiled for choice with the opportunities across the country, but especially in Manchester." Play Expo and Anime & Gaming Con are just two of the many upcoming gaming conventions in the city, which boasts a wealth of educational and professional opportunities. 

6TAKARAKUJI, a website that provides information about online casinos and hosts gaming and entertainment events, commissioned the study.