Gambling Commission Publishes Third GSGB Annual Report Detailing 2025 Participation Trends
Petra Patterson · Aug 11, 2026
Gambling Commission Publishes Third GSGB Annual Report Detailing 2025 Participation Trends
The Gambling Commission has released the third annual report drawn from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, which compiles official statistics on participation, behaviours, attitudes and consequences for the period covering 2023 through 2025. Data collection occurred across multiple waves while the final figures reflect adult responses gathered through 2025, and observers note the survey continues to serve as the primary source for national-level insights into gambling activity.
Stable Participation Figures Across the Adult Population
Headline participation stands at 47 percent of adults aged 18 and over who reported gambling in the past four weeks during 2025, a figure that holds steady compared with prior waves. When lottery-only players are excluded the rate drops to 27 percent, yet the overall pattern shows little movement from earlier measurements. Researchers highlight that these percentages emerge from a large-scale sample designed to represent the broader population, and the consistency suggests participation has settled into a predictable range rather than fluctuating sharply year to year.
Demographic breakdowns reveal higher engagement among certain groups, while younger adults and older cohorts display distinct preferences for different gambling formats. The report organises results by age, gender and region so analysts can track shifts without relying on smaller, less representative datasets.
Primary Motivations Reported by Participants
Respondents cited the chance to win large sums as the leading reason for gambling, with 84 percent selecting that option. Fun ranked second at 69 percent, and the prospect of making money followed at 57 percent. These motivations appear consistently across multiple survey waves, and the data indicate that financial aspirations and entertainment value often coexist within the same individuals rather than appearing as mutually exclusive drivers.
Additional factors such as social aspects and the excitement of specific events receive lower but still notable mention. The survey allows multiple selections so percentages exceed 100 when totalled, which reflects the reality that most people list more than one reason for their involvement.
Problem Gambling Rates Hold Steady at 2.4 Percent
The Problem Gambling Severity Index score of 8 or higher remained at 2.4 percent across the latest measurement period. This threshold identifies individuals experiencing the most severe difficulties, and the stability of the figure suggests that while participation itself has not changed dramatically, the proportion facing significant harm has not risen either. Lower severity categories receive separate reporting, and the full distribution allows regulators to monitor the entire spectrum of risk levels rather than focusing solely on the highest scores.
Comparisons with earlier annual releases show the same 2.4 percent level appearing in the previous wave as well. Those who study the data note that the survey uses a validated instrument applied uniformly, which supports direct year-on-year tracking without adjustments for methodological differences.
Attitudes Toward Gambling Remain Largely Positive or Neutral
Most participants, specifically 78 percent of those who gambled, described their feelings toward their own gambling activity as either positive or neutral. Negative sentiment appears among a smaller share, and the report separates these responses by frequency of play and by gambling type so patterns become visible. The overall tone of responses aligns with the stable participation numbers, indicating that the majority of adults who engage do not report strong dissatisfaction.
Questions on broader societal views also feature in the survey, and responses show a mix of acceptance for regulated gambling alongside concerns about specific products or marketing approaches. Because the instrument captures both personal experience and general opinion, analysts gain a fuller picture than surveys limited to one dimension.
Survey Methodology and Scope
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain employs a probability-based sample with repeated waves throughout the year, which reduces seasonal bias and improves reliability compared with single-point-in-time polls. Fieldwork covers England, Scotland and Wales, and weighting ensures results reflect the national adult population. The Commission publishes both the full dataset and an interactive dashboard alongside the annual summary, allowing independent researchers to examine variables in greater detail.
Questions cover not only participation and harm but also expenditure patterns, product preferences and exposure to advertising. This breadth distinguishes the GSGB from narrower industry-collected figures and provides context for regulatory decisions expected later in 2026.
Conclusion
The third annual GSGB report delivers a consistent snapshot of gambling behaviour across Great Britain through 2025, with participation holding at 47 percent overall and 27 percent when lottery play is removed. Motivations centre on winning, enjoyment and financial gain, while problem gambling rates measured by PGSI remain at 2.4 percent and the majority of gamblers report neutral or positive feelings. The Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) Annual Report 2025 supplies the underlying data and dashboard for further analysis, and the findings establish a baseline against which future waves will be compared.