Gambling Survey for Great Britain Delivers First Three-Year Comparable Dataset on Participation and Harms

The UK Gambling Commission has published its third annual report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, and the document supplies the initial three-year comparable dataset covering 2023 through 2025. Researchers gathered responses from more than 20,000 adults to track participation levels, behaviours, attitudes, and harms, while the resulting official statistics feed directly into regulatory decisions and policy development across England, Scotland, and Wales. Participation in gambling during the past four weeks stood at 47 percent in 2025, a figure that has remained broadly consistent across the three-year span. The same dataset places the problem gambling rate at 2.4 percent for 2025, again showing stability when compared with earlier waves. Analysts note that these headline measures now rest on a standardised methodology that permits year-on-year tracking without the breaks that previously limited trend analysis.

Survey Design and Data Collection

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain uses a large-scale, address-based sampling approach that draws respondents from across Great Britain. Fieldwork occurred throughout 2025, producing a sample size that exceeds 20,000 completed interviews. Because the questionnaire and weighting procedures have stayed fixed since the first wave, statisticians can now compare 2023, 2024, and 2025 results on an equal footing for the first time.

Questions cover frequency of play, preferred channels, spend patterns, and self-reported harms. Separate modules examine attitudes toward gambling and awareness of support services. The design also captures demographic breakdowns, allowing detailed examination of how participation and risk vary by age, gender, income, and region.

Participation Trends Across Three Years

Overall past-four-week participation hovered near 47 percent in each of the three survey years. Online gambling accounts for a growing share of that activity, while land-based venues maintain steady but smaller proportions. Lottery draws continue to draw the largest number of participants, followed by scratchcards adn online casino-style games. Sports betting remains popular among younger cohorts, although its overall share has not shifted markedly since 2023.

Regional differences appear modest. England, Scotland, and Wales each report participation rates within a few percentage points of the national average. Age remains the clearest differentiator, with adults aged 18 to 34 showing higher engagement in online slots and casino games, while older groups favour lottery products.

Problem Gambling and Harm Indicators

The problem gambling rate, measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index, reached 2.4 percent in 2025. This level sits within the range observed in the two preceding years, indicating no statistically significant change. Moderate-risk gambling sits at approximately 1.9 percent, again showing stability. Those who have studied the data observe that harms cluster among a small subset of participants who report multiple negative consequences, including financial strain, relationship difficulties, and mental health impacts.

The report also tracks help-seeking behaviour. Awareness of the National Gambling Helpline and other support options has risen slightly since 2023, yet only a minority of those scoring in the problem gambling category report having sought formal assistance. The survey records self-exclusion uptake and use of gambling management tools, providing regulators with additional context on consumer protection measures already in place.

Attitudes and Public Perceptions

Attitudinal questions reveal that most adults view gambling as a legitimate leisure activity when conducted responsibly. At the same time, concern about gambling-related harm remains elevated, particularly among those who have witnessed negative outcomes in family or friends. Support for stricter advertising rules and enhanced age verification has grown modestly across the three waves. These attitude measures supply context for ongoing policy discussions without prescribing specific regulatory actions.

Use of the Data in Regulation and Policy

The Gambling Commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport rely on these official statistics when evaluating existing rules and considering adjustments. Because the dataset now spans three comparable years, trend detection becomes more reliable, and short-term fluctuations can be distinguished from longer-term shifts. The figures also serve as a baseline for measuring the effects of future regulatory changes once they take effect.

External researchers and public health bodies access the same data through the UK Data Service, extending the reach of the survey beyond the regulator itself. Academic papers drawing on earlier waves have already examined links between gambling participation and socioeconomic factors, and the 2025 release will support further longitudinal analysis.

Conclusion

The third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain report supplies the first stable three-year view of gambling participation, problem rates, and related harms. With participation at 47 percent and problem gambling at 2.4 percent in 2025, the core indicators show continuity rather than rapid change. The large sample and consistent methodology allow regulators, researchers, and policymakers to monitor developments with greater precision than before, and the dataset will continue to inform evidence-based decisions in the years ahead. The full report and accompanying data tables are available on the Gambling Commission website.