UK Gambling Commission Publishes Third Annual Report from Gambling Survey for Great Britain

Data from the third annual report of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain shows participation rates holding steady between 2023 and 2025 while problem gambling prevalence remains unchanged at 2.4 percent among adults with a PGSI score of 8 or higher. The Gambling Commission released these official statistics in 2026, drawing on responses from roughly 20,000 people each year to track behaviours, attitudes, and consequences across the population.

Participation Levels Remain Consistent

Figures reveal that 47 percent of adults in Great Britain took part in some form of gambling during the four weeks prior to being surveyed in 2025. When lottery-only players are excluded the rate drops to 27 percent, a pattern that has shown little movement since the survey began collecting annual data. Observers note that this stability allows policymakers to examine underlying trends without the distraction of sudden spikes or drops in overall engagement.

Common motivations cited by participants include the chance to win money and the enjoyment of the activity itself. Researchers at the Gambling Commission compiled these responses alongside data on frequency, spending, and attitudes toward gambling products, creating a dataset large enough to support detailed breakdowns by age, gender, and region.

Problem Gambling Prevalence Shows No Significant Shift

The report tracks problem gambling through the Problem Gambling Severity Index, with 2.4 percent of adults scoring 8 or above in the most recent wave. This figure has remained consistent across the three years covered by the survey, providing a baseline that stakeholders can use when evaluating the impact of regulatory changes or support services. Those who've studied the data point out that the large sample size reduces the margin of error compared with smaller studies, making year-on-year comparisons more reliable.

Survey Design Supports Robust Trend Analysis

Conducted annually with approximately 20,000 respondents, the Gambling Survey for Great Britain stands among the largest dedicated gambling studies worldwide. The methodology combines online and postal approaches to reach a broad cross-section of the population, while weighting ensures results reflect national demographics. Experts have observed that this scale enables granular analysis of subgroups, such as young adults or those who gamble online versus in person, without sacrificing statistical power.

Attitudes toward gambling and reported consequences also feature in the dataset. Respondents answered questions about perceived harms, including financial strain and effects on relationships or mental health. The resulting statistics offer a rounded view of both participation and its outcomes, giving regulators and treatment providers a clearer picture of where resources might be directed.

Policy Implications and Data Access

Because the survey runs on a consistent annual cycle, it supports the kind of trend analysis that shorter or one-off studies cannot provide. Government departments, local authorities, and industry bodies now have access to comparable figures stretching back to the first wave, which helps when assessing whether new rules or harm-minimisation measures are producing measurable effects. The Gambling Survey for Great Britain Annual Report 2025 contains the full set of tables and methodological notes, allowing independent researchers to replicate or extend the analysis.

Additional detail on behaviours includes the types of gambling products used most often and the channels through which people place bets or play games. These breakdowns show that while overall participation has stayed level, the mix of activities and the proportion of online versus offline play continue to evolve, information that can inform future regulatory priorities.

Conclusion

The third annual report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain supplies policymakers and stakeholders with a stable, high-quality evidence base covering participation, problem gambling prevalence, motivations, and reported consequences through 2025. With its large sample and repeated measures, the survey continues to serve as a key reference point for understanding how gambling patterns develop over time in Great Britain.