The UKGC, or UK Gambling Commission, has published the second yearly report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). Researchers conducted the world’s largest dedicated study of gambling participation, behaviors, and consequences.
The survey was conducted by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow. It has undergone independent review. It also complements the broader study of gambling in Britain by the Commission, using various research and data sources.
The 2025 report finds that 48% of adults aged 18+ in Great Britain gambled in the past four weeks. This figure drops to 28% when excluding those who only bought lottery tickets.
Among adults who gambled in the past 12 months, 42% rated their last gambling experience positively. In comparison, 21% rated it negatively. The main reason people gamble is for the chance to win big money, cited by 85% of respondents. The next most common reason is that gambling is fun, mentioned by 72%.
In the previous year, 2.7% of adults aged 18+ in Great Britain scored 8 or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). This figure is statistically stable compared to 2023.
Previous research by Professor Patrick Sturgis explored the impact of methodology on survey estimates. It has strengthened confidence in the robustness of GSGB estimates.
The large survey sample size is 19,714 respondents. It has allowed the Commission to publish two supplementary reports. One focuses on risk profiles among people who gamble weekly, and the other examines the potential negative consequences of gambling.
The first report highlights the risk profiles among people who gamble on a weekly basis. These findings show that risk levels vary not only between different gambling products but also within product categories themselves. This underlines the need for operators to consider risks within their customer bases.
