Latest UKGC survey shows stable gambling participation and slight fall in harm rate

The proportion of adults recording a Problem Gambling Severity Index score of eight or higher fell to 2.4% in 2025, from 2.7% in the previous Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB).

The Gambling Commission, which published the third annual report on July 16, described the rate as stable across the survey’s three years. The figure was 2.5% in the first report, published in 2024.

Overall participation also changed little. Among respondents aged 18 and older, 47% said they had gambled during the previous four weeks, compared with 48% in the prior survey. Excluding people who only played lottery draws, participation remained at 27%.

The survey found that 84% of gamblers participated for the chance of winning big money, 69% because gambling was fun, 57% to make money and 53% because it was exciting. A total of 78% reported positive or neutral feelings toward their gambling.

It also examined harm linked to other people’s gambling. Of respondents, 43.2% said someone close to them gambled, and 3.3% of that group had sought support. Among people who had gambled in the past 12 months, just under 6% said they had lied to their family at least occasionally. Relationship breakdown was the most frequently reported severe consequence of another person’s gambling, at 3.3%.

The National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow conducted the survey for the commission. It collected responses from 20,775 adults in Great Britain, about 1,000 more than previously, between January 2025 and January 2026.

The GSGB uses a push-to-web method, contacting potential respondents through offline channels before providing an online questionnaire. The commission said the results are not necessarily comparable with other gambling surveys because of methodological differences. The NHS Health Survey, which uses a different approach, has reported a problem gambling rate of 0.7%.

With about 20,000 respondents each year, the GSGB tracks gambling participation, behavior, attitudes and consequences, including National Lottery activity. Its methodology has been independently reviewed, and the three reports provide official statistics covering 2023 to 2025.

Tim Miller, executive director for research and policy

Tim Miller, the commission’s soon-to-depart Executive Director for Research and Policy, said: “The publication of the third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain marks an important milestone. Three years of GSGB provide a richer, more timely picture of the trend in gambling in Great Britain than has previously been available.

“It helps us understand not only who gambles and the products they use, but also why people gamble, the range of experiences they have, and the consequences gambling can have in people’s lives. This evidence is a vital part of a wider evidence base that informs policy, regulation and public discussion.

“We encourage researchers, policymakers, industry and the wider public to make use of these findings alongside the interactive dashboard and supplementary reports. As with all official statistics, we remain committed to ensuring GSGB continues to meet the highest standards through transparency, independent scrutiny and ongoing methodological improvement.”