Commission Publishes Third Annual Gambling Survey Detailing Stable Participation Rates Across Britain

The UK Gambling Commission released the third annual report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain on 16 July 2026, and the document presents data collected between 2023 and 2025 that tracks adult gambling activity throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Observers note that the survey continues to serve as the primary source of official statistics on how people engage with gambling products, how they behave while playing, and what attitudes they hold toward the activity itself.

Participation figures remain consistent with earlier waves of the same study, since 47 percent of adults reported gambling in the past four weeks while the proportion drops to 27 percent when lottery-only players are removed from the calculation. Researchers compiled these percentages through a large-scale methodology that captures both online and land-based activity, which allows direct comparison across multiple years without sudden shifts in measurement approach.

Participation Patterns and Product Breakdown

National Lottery draws continue to account for the largest share of overall participation, yet the survey also records steady involvement in other forms such as online slots, sports betting and casino games. Data shows that the proportion of adults who gamble at least once a month has not moved significantly since the previous annual report, which suggests that broader market trends have not produced dramatic increases or decreases in consumer behaviour during the covered period.

Those who've studied the figures point out that excluding lottery-only players produces a clearer picture of engagement with higher-intensity products, and the 27 percent figure therefore highlights the segment most likely to interact with multiple gambling formats. The report further breaks down participation by age group, gender and region, revealing that patterns differ modestly across demographic categories while overall stability persists at the national level.

Problem Gambling Prevalence Measured by PGSI

The Problem Gambling Severity Index remains the key instrument used to assess harm, and the 2025 data places the proportion of adults scoring eight or higher at 2.4 percent. This threshold corresponds to the category labelled problem gambling, while lower scores capture moderate-risk and low-risk behaviour that the survey also tracks in detail. Because the same instrument has been applied consistently across waves, direct year-on-year comparison becomes possible without methodological adjustments that could distort trends.

Figures reveal that the majority of people who gamble report either positive or neutral feelings about their participation, which aligns with the relatively low prevalence of high PGSI scores. The report includes additional questions on perceived consequences, financial impact and emotional responses, thereby providing a rounded view that extends beyond binary categorisation of harm or its absence.

Attitudes, Behaviours and Reported Consequences

Survey respondents answered items covering motivations for gambling, frequency of play, and any steps they have taken to limit their activity. Responses indicate that most participants view gambling as a form of entertainment rather than a primary income source, and many describe setting personal limits on time or money spent. The commission notes that these self-reported controls appear more common among those who gamble regularly than among infrequent participants.

Consequences are examined through questions about financial strain, relationship effects and emotional wellbeing, yet the data shows that only a small minority report experiencing significant negative outcomes. Researchers compiled cross-tabulations that link PGSI scores to these consequence measures, which helps illustrate how elevated problem gambling scores correlate with greater likelihood of reporting adverse effects.

Survey Methodology and Scope

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain employs a mixed-mode approach that combines online panels with random probability sampling to reach a representative adult population. Fieldwork for the 2025 wave concluded before the July 2026 publication date, and the commission has published detailed technical appendices that describe weighting procedures and response rates. This transparency allows external analysts to evaluate data quality and to understand how the survey maintains comparability across annual releases.

Because the study covers Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom as a whole, Northern Ireland remains outside its scope, and separate arrangements exist for collecting statistics in that jurisdiction. The report therefore focuses exclusively on the three nations where the commission holds regulatory responsibility, which keeps the findings directly relevant to policy and licensing decisions within its remit.

Conclusion

The third annual GSGB report supplies updated benchmarks on participation, problem gambling prevalence and player attitudes that regulators, operators and researchers can reference when assessing market conditions in 2026. The stability observed in the headline statistics suggests continuity rather than abrupt change, while the detailed breakdowns by product and demographic continue to offer granular insight into how different groups engage with gambling. The full Gambling Survey for Great Britain annual report 2025 (official statistics) remains available on the commission website for anyone seeking the complete dataset and methodological documentation.