Third Annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain Delivers Fresh Data on Adult Participation

The UK Gambling Commission released the third annual report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain on 15 July 2026. This document presents the latest official statistics covering gambling participation, behaviours, attitudes and consequences for adults across Great Britain during the 2023–2025 period. The survey draws responses from approximately 20,000 people each year and maintains a nationally representative sample that allows year-on-year comparisons. Participation figures remain steady according to the latest release. Forty-seven percent of adults reported taking part in any gambling activity during the previous four weeks, while the rate drops to 27 percent when lottery-only players are excluded from the calculation. These headline numbers have shown little movement compared with earlier waves of the same survey, which suggests continuity in overall engagement levels across the adult population.

Problem Gambling Rates Hold Steady

Problem gambling measured by a PGSI score of eight or higher continues at 2.4 percent of adults. The report places this figure alongside previous annual releases and notes that the rate has remained consistent through the three-year window. Researchers who designed the survey instrument highlight that the PGSI scale captures a range of behaviours and consequences, which allows the Commission to track changes even when headline participation stays flat. The data further breaks down responses by frequency and type of activity. People who gamble regularly appear in distinct clusters, and the survey captures both those who play only occasionally and those whose involvement spans multiple product types. Because the sample size stays large each year, statisticians can produce reliable estimates for smaller subgroups without compromising the overall margins of error.

Reasons for Gambling and Emotional Responses

Respondents provided information on their primary reasons for gambling. Common motivations include the chance to win money, entertainment value and social aspects of certain games. The report records that most participants describe their feelings during and after gambling as positive or neutral rather than negative. This pattern appears across both lottery and non-lottery activities, although the intensity of reported feelings varies by product type and frequency of play. The survey instrument includes questions on perceived consequences. Participants who report any negative outcomes remain a minority within the overall sample. The Commission presents these findings alongside participation statistics so readers can view both sides of the behavioural picture within a single dataset.

Survey Methodology and Scope

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain uses a mixed-mode approach that combines online and postal invitations to achieve broad coverage. Fieldwork occurs throughout the calendar year, which reduces seasonal bias in the final estimates. Weighting procedures align the achieved sample with known population totals for age, gender, region and other demographic variables. Because the survey runs annually, analysts can examine short-term stability as well as longer trends once additional waves become available. The third report marks the first point at which three full years of comparable data exist under the current methodology. This allows the Commission to present both single-year snapshots and three-year averages where appropriate.

Key Statistics at a Glance

- 47 percent of adults gambled in the past four weeks - 27 percent participated when lottery-only play is removed - 2.4 percent recorded a PGSI score of eight or higher - Sample size reaches around 20,000 respondents each year - Feelings described as positive or neutral by most participants The report supplies additional tables that cross-tabulate these headline measures by age band, gender and geographic region. Such breakdowns help identify whether any subgroup deviates from the national pattern while the overall averages remain stable.

Accessing the Full Report

The UK Gambling Commission has published the complete dataset and accompanying technical documentation on its website. Readers who want the full set of tables and methodological notes can download the materials directly from the official source. The Commission also provides summary slides that highlight the main findings for quick reference. Data from the survey feeds into ongoing regulatory monitoring and policy development. Because the numbers remain consistent across the three annual releases, observers note that any future shifts will stand out clearly against this established baseline.

Conclusion

The third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain supplies a clear, updated picture of adult gambling behaviour between 2023 and 2025. Stable participation at 47 percent, a 27 percent rate when lottery play is excluded, and steady problem gambling prevalence at 2.4 percent form the core findings released in July 2026. The survey continues to track reasons for participation and emotional responses, which adds context to the numerical results. With three years of data now available, the report offers a reliable reference point for anyone examining trends in Great Britain’s gambling landscape.