UK Problem Gambling Rate Declines, Survey Faces Industry Scrutiny

The latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) indicates a decrease in the problem gambling rate for 2025, while industry stakeholders continue to voice concerns over the survey’s statistical methodology. The third annual report, released by the Gambling Commission, shows a rate of 2.4% among adults.

What Happened

The third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) reported that 2.4% of adults scored eight or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) in 2025, a decrease from 2.7% in the previous year. This figure, according to the Racing Post, equates to an estimated 1.3 million people. The Gambling Commission described this rate as “stable,” noting that the figure in the first annual report was 2.5%.

However, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) reiterated its concerns regarding the official statistics, stating that the GSGB’s methodology “substantially oversamples gamblers and therefore produces inflated participation and harm levels,” according to Racing Post. They highlighted that other surveys, such as the NHS Health Survey for England, estimate a problem gambling rate of 0.7%, reportedly one of the lowest internationally.

Key Details

• The 2025 GSGB reported a problem gambling rate of 2.4% based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), down from 2.7% the previous year (Racing Post).
• This 2.4% rate represents an estimated 1.3 million people in Great Britain (Racing Post).
• The Gambling Commission stated the rate is “stable,” with the initial annual report showing 2.5% (Racing Post).
• The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) criticized the GSGB’s methodology, asserting it oversamples gamblers, leading to “inflated” figures (Racing Post).
• The NHS Health Survey for England estimates a problem gambling rate of 0.7%, which the BGC cites as evidence of Britain’s effective regulatory framework (Racing Post).
• The GSGB found that 47% of respondents aged 18 and over gambled in the past four weeks; this figure reduced to 27% when excluding lottery participants (Racing Post).
• A majority of gamblers, 78%, held a positive or neutral view of their gambling activities (Racing Post).
• The most common reasons for gambling participation included the prospect of winning big money (84%), fun (69%), making money (57%), and excitement (53%) (Racing Post).

Why It Matters

The disparity between various problem gambling statistics, particularly between the GSGB and surveys like the NHS Health Survey, presents a challenge for regulatory policy. The BGC expressed fears that the GSGB figures could be used to justify further regulation, including affordability checks, which they believe could be disproportionate if based on what they term “inflated” figures (Racing Post). The Gambling Commission, conversely, emphasized the GSGB’s role in providing a more timely and detailed picture of gambling trends, informing policy, regulation, and public discussion (Racing Post).

Furthermore, the BGC highlighted concerns that stricter measures, such as those arising from an increased remote gaming duty, could inadvertently push consumers towards the unregulated market. Research by H2 Gambling Capital, reportedly cited by the BGC, forecasts the illegal market’s share of online betting to more than double to 22% by 2031, from 10% in 2025, with online gambling turnover in this sector potentially exceeding £36 billion. This suggests a potential shift of consumers away from regulated environments, where protections are in place, towards platforms lacking such safeguards (Racing Post).

What’s Next

The Gambling Commission’s executive director for research and policy, Tim Miller, stated that the commission remains committed to ensuring the GSGB meets “the highest standards through transparency, independent scrutiny and ongoing methodological improvement” (Racing Post). The BGC has urged the government and Gambling Commission to address the perceived harmful growth of the illegal market, which independent experts reportedly predict could double in size over the next five years (Racing Post).

Originally reported by Racing Post·Published 16 Jul 2026, 10:40