19 Jul 2026

Gambling Survey for Great Britain Releases Third Annual Report Highlighting Steady Trends

UK Gambling Commission headquarters building with official signage and modern architecture

The UK Gambling Commission has published the third annual report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, and this release covers official statistics on participation, behaviours, attitudes, and consequences spanning 2023 through 2025. Data indicates consistent patterns across the period while the survey itself stands as one of the largest dedicated gambling studies globally with around twenty thousand respondents each year.

Researchers compiled responses that allow robust trend analysis for policymakers and stakeholders who track how adults engage with gambling activities over time. The report draws from repeated waves of data collection that produce comparable figures across multiple years.

Participation Rates Hold Steady Across Three Years

Adults who gambled in the past four weeks reached 47 percent in 2025, and the rate stayed consistent with earlier waves of the survey. When analysts exclude those who played only the lottery the figure settles at 27 percent, and this adjusted measure also shows little movement from previous reporting periods. Observers note that these participation levels provide a baseline for understanding broader engagement without dramatic shifts in either direction.

Figures reveal that lottery draws continue to attract a significant share of participants, yet other forms of gambling maintain their own steady presence in the overall picture. The survey tracks these distinctions carefully so that trends emerge clearly over successive annual releases.

Problem Gambling Prevalence Remains Unchanged

Problem gambling measured by a PGSI score of 8 or higher held at 2.4 percent throughout the latest reporting cycle. This prevalence rate aligns with results from 2023 and 2024, and the stability allows direct comparisons across the three-year span. Those who study the data point out that the consistent methodology supports reliable tracking of this particular indicator over time.

Additional measures within the survey capture related behaviours and consequences, and these elements receive the same consistent treatment in each annual edition. The report presents the full range of findings without suggesting changes where none appear in the numbers.

Common Motivations Include Winning Money and Enjoyment

Participants frequently cited winning money as a primary reason for gambling, while fun and entertainment also ranked highly among stated motivations. The survey captures these attitudes alongside behavioural data so that motivations connect directly to reported activities. Responses show these drivers remain prominent across the studied years without notable variation.

Attitudes toward gambling appear in the collected responses as well, and the report presents them alongside participation and prevalence statistics. This combined view gives stakeholders a fuller picture of how adults approach gambling opportunities in Great Britain.

Diverse group of adults discussing survey results around a conference table with charts visible

Survey Scale Supports Detailed Trend Analysis

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain stands among the world's largest dedicated studies of its kind, and the annual sample of approximately twenty thousand respondents enables granular breakdowns by demographic and activity type. Multiple waves of data collection across 2023, 2024, and 2025 create the foundation for year-over-year comparisons that policymakers rely upon. The commission designed the survey to produce official statistics that meet rigorous quality standards.

Those who work with the results gain access to detailed tables and trend lines that span the full reporting period. This structure supports analysis of both overall patterns and specific subgroups within the adult population.

Official Release Provides Data for Stakeholders

The UK Gambling Commission made the full report available through its statistics and research section, and interested parties can review the complete set of findings directly from that source. The publication follows established procedures for releasing official statistics on gambling participation and related measures. Stakeholders across regulatory, industry, and research communities now have updated figures to incorporate into their ongoing work.

Data collection methods remained consistent across the three years covered, and this continuity strengthens the value of the trend information contained in the report. The commission continues to publish these annual updates as part of its regular statistical programme.

Conclusion

The third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain report delivers updated statistics that show stable participation at 47 percent overall and 27 percent excluding lottery-only play, alongside a problem gambling rate of 2.4 percent measured by PGSI score of 8 or higher. Motivations such as winning money and enjoyment continue to feature prominently in responses. With its large annual sample and repeated waves of data, the survey supplies reliable trend information for those who monitor gambling behaviours in Great Britain. The full dataset appears in the official release available through the Gambling Commission.