Recent Gambling Trends in Great Britain: A Shift in Participation Rates
A notable decline in gambling participation has been observed in Great Britain, according to the latest figures released by the Gambling Commission. Data derived from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), conducted by NatCen between September 2024 and January 2025, indicates that the percentage of adults engaging in gambling activities dropped to 46%, down from 49% in the previous three-month period.
This latest survey involved a comprehensive sample of 5,191 adults aged 18 and over. Of those who reported gambling within the last month, a significant 19% engaged solely in National Lottery or charity lottery games. When these individuals are excluded from the overall statistics, gambling participation decreases to 28%, remaining consistent with earlier reports.
Review of the Gambling Survey by the Office for Statistics Regulation
In response to concerns regarding the GSGB’s reliability, the UK’s Office for Statistics Regulation, an arm of the UK Statistics Authority, conducted a thorough review. Their findings were documented in a report that suggested nine key improvements for the study. Nonetheless, they affirmed the statistical data’s validity, stating that it remains suitable for publication.
Among their recommendations, the Office emphasized the need for clearer quality assurance practices and transparency regarding potential biases affecting the estimates. They also proposed that the Gambling Commission engage more with users to ensure the study’s evolution reflects community insights and needs.
Ed Humpherson, the director general for the Office for Statistics Regulation, acknowledged the Gambling Commission’s proactive efforts to address these recommendations, emphasizing the importance of public accountability in their progress.
Shifts in Gambling Activities: Lottery Declines and Online Growth
The most recent GSGB data reveals shifts in popular gambling activities. While lottery games retain the top spot as the most favored form of gambling, participation has dipped from 37% to 34% since October. Following the lottery, scratchcards and traditional betting are the next preferred choices at 12% and 10%, respectively. Interestingly, online instant win games have seen a modest 7% participation rate.
When isolating online gambling participation from the overall figures, rates stand at 37%, but this figure lowers to 17% when excluding lottery draw-only players—an increase of one percentage point compared to the previous period.
Recent reports from the Gambling Commission highlight a significant year-on-year boost of 7% in online gross gambling yield for the first quarter, largely driven by robust growth in online slots. For the quarter ending March 31, gross gambling yield reached £1.45 billion ($1.93 billion), surpassing the previous year’s figures but reflecting a decline from the preceding quarter.
Furthermore, approximately 23.4 billion spins were recorded in this quarter, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. Average player accounts also rose to a record high of 4.5 million, suggesting a thriving online gambling environment despite the overall decline in participation.
Demographic Insights from the Study
The NatCen survey provides important demographic insights as well. Only 6% of participants belonged to the 18 to 24 age group, which is lower than the estimated 11% representation of this demographic in Great Britain’s adult population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 age group represented 18% of the survey respondents, compared to their 12% share in the overall adult population.
In summary, the latest gambling participation figures highlight a significant reduction in engagement across Great Britain, contrasted by continued growth in specific online sectors. With ongoing reviews and adjustments to the GSGB study, the Gambling Commission aims to maintain the integrity and accuracy of gambling statistics in the face of changing public behavior.