Gambling Commission Issues Third Annual Report from Its National Survey on Behaviours Across Great Britain

The UK Gambling Commission has released the third annual report from its Gambling Survey for Great Britain, and this document delivers official statistics covering participation, behaviours, attitudes, and consequences tied to gambling activities. Data collection ran across 2025, with the findings now available for public review and further analysis by researchers and policymakers.

Participation Levels Hold Steady in Latest Figures

Headline participation reached 47% of adults who gambled in the past four weeks during 2025, while the figure drops to 27% once lottery-only players are set aside. Observers note these numbers reflect consistency with prior years, and the stability supports detailed tracking of how people engage with different gambling products over time. The survey captures a broad range of activities, from in-person betting to online options, which allows comparisons across demographic groups without introducing new variables each cycle.

Those who've examined the data point out that the exclusion of lottery-only participants provides a clearer view of other forms of gambling, and this adjustment helps highlight where engagement remains concentrated. Figures reveal no sharp shifts in overall involvement, which means analysts can focus on patterns within specific segments rather than broad swings in total numbers.

Problem Gambling Rates Remain Unchanged at 2.4%

Problem gambling rates measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index at a score of 8 or higher stayed steady at 2.4%. This metric forms one part of the wider set of questions on attitudes and consequences, and researchers have tracked it consistently across the three annual waves. Data indicates the rate applies to the adult population sampled, while additional questions explore related behaviours such as frequency and spending patterns that sit alongside the core indicator.

Experts have observed that maintaining the same methodology year after year strengthens the ability to identify genuine changes versus random variation, and the current report continues that approach. The survey includes modules on perceived harms and help-seeking, which sit within the same dataset and allow cross-referencing with the problem gambling score.

Survey Scale Supports Robust Trend Analysis

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain stands as one of the world's largest dedicated gambling studies, drawing roughly 20,000 respondents each year. This volume enables statistically reliable breakdowns by age, gender, region, and product type, while the three-year span now available permits examination of short-term trends. The commission designed the study to produce comparable data across waves, and the resulting dataset supports both headline reporting and deeper secondary analysis by external organisations.

People involved in data collection note that the large sample reduces margins of error on key indicators, and the annual cadence means updates arrive regularly enough to inform ongoing monitoring. The report includes both weighted national estimates and unweighted respondent profiles, which together give a full picture of the evidence base.

Additional Details on Behaviours and Attitudes

Beyond the core participation and problem gambling numbers, the report presents findings on attitudes toward gambling and reported consequences. These sections draw from the same respondent pool, which means connections between attitudes, behaviours, and outcomes can be explored within a single consistent framework. Figures on frequency of play and preferred channels appear alongside questions about perceived risks, and the combined information offers a rounded view of the current landscape.

Analysts who have reviewed earlier waves highlight how the survey structure supports comparisons across time, and the 2025 data extends that sequence without altering question wording or sampling methods. This continuity matters because it keeps the focus on actual shifts in the population rather than changes in how the questions are asked.

Release Context and Access to Full Materials

The commission published the third annual report in 2026, and the accompanying materials include both the main report and an interactive data dashboard. Stakeholders can examine breakdowns by different variables directly through the dashboard, which expands access beyond the static tables in the written document. The Gambling Survey for Great Britain annual report 2025 official statistics page provides direct links to these resources for anyone seeking the complete dataset.

Conclusion

The third annual report confirms stable headline participation at 47% of adults in the past four weeks during 2025, or 27% when lottery-only players are excluded, alongside a problem gambling rate of 2.4% on the PGSI 8+ measure. With approximately 20,000 respondents each year, the survey continues to deliver one of the largest dedicated datasets on gambling in Great Britain, and the three-year run of comparable data now supports ongoing trend monitoring. The commission's release makes these statistics available for further examination by researchers and other interested parties through both the report and the linked dashboard.