The Gambling Commission has published the second annual report of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), the world’s largest dedicated study of gambling participation, player behaviours, and gambling-related harms.
Produced by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow, the report has undergone independent review and complements the Commission’s wider research and data on gambling in Britain.
The survey shows that 48% of adults (aged 18+) in Great Britain have gambled in the past four weeks. When excluding those who only bought lottery tickets, this figure drops to 28%. Among those who gambled in the last 12 months, 42% rated their most recent gambling experience positively, compared with 21% who rated it negatively. The main reasons for gambling remain the chance to win big money (85%) and the belief that gambling is fun (72%).
In 2024, 2.7% of adults scored 8 or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), a figure that remains statistically stable compared with 2023. Recent research by Professor Patrick Sturgis has strengthened confidence in the robustness of the GSGB methodology, increasing the reliability of the survey’s estimates.
With a sample size of 19,714 respondents, the survey has enabled the publication of two supplementary reports. The first examines risk profiles among weekly gamblers, revealing that risk levels vary not only between gambling products but also within product categories. This underlines the need for operators to understand and manage risks across their customer bases. The second report explores the negative consequences of gambling, reinforcing previous research that gambling can affect multiple areas of life, including personal relationships and health.
This year’s release builds on other studies published by the Commission, such as quarterly reports tracking gambling participation, in-depth research from the University of Glasgow on gambling motivations and PGSI scores, and new qualitative studies on players’ experiences of gambling-related harm. The Commission has also responded to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) review of the GSGB and conducted experimental research on why different gambling surveys can produce varying estimates.
Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, described the GSGB as a key building block for evidence-based gambling regulation:
“The Gambling Survey for Great Britain is a key building block of the evidence base that helps government, industry, and other partners understand both gambling behaviour and its potential consequences.
This year’s findings deepen our understanding of gambling-related harm and provide crucial insight into risk profiles among the most frequent gamblers. We strongly encourage operators to use this evidence to better assess and manage risks in their customer bases.
Data and research like the GSGB are essential for guiding our regulatory focus and supporting the implementation of player protection measures set out in the Gambling Act Review White Paper.”
Rhodes highlighted that the Commission has already introduced significant player protection measures. These include light-touch financial vulnerability checks for customers spending more than £150 per month, reducing the intensity of online games by banning autoplay and slowing game speed, and strengthening age verification in land-based gambling venues. The Commission has also banned harmful promotional offers that require engaging in multiple gambling types (e.g., betting and slots) and limited the number of times bonus funds must be re-staked before players can withdraw winnings.
From 31 October, new rules will require all gambling operators to prompt customers to set a deposit limit before making their first deposit. In the land-based sector, the Commission is exploring time and monetary limit settings on gaming machines and the introduction of safer gambling messages.
Additionally, the Commission has been piloting enhanced frictionless financial risk assessments for players spending £1,000 within 24 hours or £2,000 within 90 days. These pilots have tested data sharing between credit reference agencies and gambling businesses to strengthen consumer protection. To support accurate interpretation of the statistics, the Commission has updated and published guidance on how gambling data should be presented and used.
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