Great Britain’s 2025 Gambling Survey Reveals Stable Participation and New Long-Term Trends

GSGB provides three years of trend data for the first time

The publication of the 2025 GSGB Annual Report marks the first time the Gambling Commission has been able to analyze gambling behavior using three consecutive years of nationally representative data, covering 2023, 2024 and 2025.

According to Helen Bryce, the Commission’s Head of Statistics, the expanded dataset strengthens the survey’s ability to identify long-term patterns and emerging trends across the British gambling market.

Overall gambling participation remains stable

The report concludes that key indicators have remained largely unchanged over the three-year period. Among the main findings are:

• Stable levels of gambling participation among adults aged 18 and over.
• Consistent levels of consumer enjoyment associated with gambling activities.
• No significant change in the proportion of respondents scoring 8 or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).

The Commission noted that these results suggest the overall size and engagement of the gambling market have remained relatively steady despite ongoing regulatory developments.

Survey identifies demographic changes beneath headline figures

While the broader market has shown stability, the data reveal important shifts within specific population groups.

Gambling participation increases among older men

One of the most significant findings is an increase in gambling participation among men aged 55 and over, highlighting the value of trend analysis in identifying behavioral changes that may not be visible through headline statistics alone.

The Gambling Commission emphasized that these insights demonstrate the importance of monitoring gambling participation across different demographic segments rather than relying solely on aggregate figures.

Broader measures of gambling-related harm gain importance

Alongside the annual survey, the regulator published two additional reports examining gambling-related harm beyond traditional behavioral risk measures.

Harm extends beyond problem gambling classifications

The first report evaluates whether the proportion of people reporting one or more adverse gambling-related consequences could serve as a meaningful headline indicator of gambling harm across the population.

The second concludes that some individuals may experience gambling-related harm even when classified as being at relatively low risk under the Problem Gambling Severity Index, reinforcing the need for broader measurement tools.

According to the Commission, these findings underline the importance of assessing gambling harms through multiple indicators rather than relying on a single metric.

Interactive data and ongoing methodological improvements

The Gambling Commission has also updated its interactive GSGB dashboard, allowing users to analyze data by year, age, gender, nation and region.

In parallel, updated technical guidance and methodological documentation have been published, outlining both the strengths and limitations of the survey, including the potential for overestimation or underestimation within certain estimates.

The regulator continues to refine the GSGB methodology following recommendations from Professor Patrick Sturgis of the London School of Economics and the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). As part of this work, the Commission also published a paper by Professor Heather Wardle, titled Different Survey, Same Story, examining the consistency between the GSGB and previous gambling surveys.

Future research to expand focus on underrepresented communities

Looking ahead, the Gambling Commission confirmed that it will publish a dedicated report later this autumn examining gambling behaviors among ethnic minority communities in Great Britain.

Prepared by the GSGB research team at the University of Glasgow, the study will combine three years of survey data to produce a sample of approximately 50,000 respondents, addressing a longstanding challenge related to sample size in this area of research.

The Commission also highlighted the growing adoption of GSGB data across the wider research community. Recent initiatives include an expanded survey commissioned by Public Health Scotland and local authority-level estimates commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), reflecting the survey's increasing role in informing gambling policy, regulation and public health research.