The Gambling Commission’s third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) has published official statistics on gambling participation, behaviour and related experiences across Great Britain during 2025.
Conducted by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow, the survey collected responses from 20,775 adults between January 2025 and January 2026. With around 20,000 participants each year, GSGB remains one of the world’s largest dedicated gambling surveys.
The latest report gives regulators and stakeholders three years of comparable data to examine gambling trends, participation patterns and the effects gambling may have on people’s lives.
Survey Examines Gambling Motivations
The 2025 results showed stable participation, with 47% of adults aged 18 and over saying they had gambled during the previous four weeks. Excluding those who only played lottery draws, the figure was 27%.
The chance of winning big money was the most common reason for gambling, cited by 84% of respondents. Gambling being fun was selected by 69%, while 57% cited making money and 53% pointed to excitement.
The survey found that 78% of gamblers had a positive or neutral view of their gambling.
Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, said: “The publication of the third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain marks an important milestone.
“Three years of GSGB provides a richer, more timely picture of the trend in gambling in Great Britain than has previously been available. It helps us understand not only who gambles and the products they use, but also why people gamble, the range of experiences they have, and the consequences gambling can have in people’s lives. This evidence is a vital part of a wider evidence base that informs policy, regulation and wider public discussion.
“We encourage researchers, policymakers, industry and the wider public to make use of these findings alongside the interactive dashboard and supplementary reports. As with all official statistics, we remain committed to ensuring GSGB continues to meet the highest standards through transparency, independent scrutiny and ongoing methodological improvement.”
Problem Gambling Measure Shows Stability
The report recorded a PGSI score of eight or above among 2.4% of adults in 2025. The measure stood at 2.7% in the previous report and 2.5% in the first GSGB publication, with the Commission describing the level as stable over three years.
The survey also examined gambling impacts on others. Among respondents who said someone close to them gambled, 3.3% had sought support. Nearly 6% of people who gambled in the previous year said they had lied to family members about their gambling at least occasionally.
The Commission said GSGB results should be compared with other GSGB waves because different survey methodologies can produce different outcomes. Additional supplementary reports based on the data will be published throughout the year.
Source:
“Commission publishes third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, Jul 16, 2026
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