How many people are harmed by gambling in Great Britain? The closest official answer comes from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) 2025, which supplies the Gambling Commission’s official UK gambling statistics on harm. It found that 2.4% of adults (95% confidence interval 1.9% to 2.8%) had a score of 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index, or PGSI. The commission puts that at approximately 1.3 million adults.
These figures cover Great Britain, meaning England, Scotland and Wales. The commission’s official statistics do not include Northern Ireland. In the four weeks before they were surveyed, 47% of adults had gambled in some way. Excluding people who only took part in lottery draws, the figure is 27%. The results were published on 16 July 2026.
If any of this sounds like your own situation, or that of someone close to you, the National Gambling Helpline offers free and confidential support on 0808 8020 133, by phone, live chat or WhatsApp. It is for people who gamble and for their friends and family. More ways to get help are in the guide to Gamstop, limits and free gambling support in Great Britain.
What the survey actually measures
The GSGB is run for the commission by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) with the University of Glasgow. The 2025 report rests on answers from 20,775 adults aged 18 and over living in Great Britain, collected in four quarterly waves between 13 January 2025 and 22 January 2026, mostly online with a paper questionnaire as an alternative. The commission publishes the results as official statistics.
The survey’s headline measure is the PGSI. It asks nine questions about the past 12 months and gives each person a score from 0 to 27. A score of 8 or more is the highest group the commission reports. The commission is clear that the PGSI should not be confused with a measure of gambling addiction.
Every survey figure is an estimate. A 95% confidence interval (CI) is the range in which the true figure is likely to fall, and a wide one means less certainty.
The commission’s guidance on using GSGB statistics advises against direct comparison with surveys that used other methods. It says the GSGB typically reports higher PGSI scores than traditional face-to-face surveys, and that estimates vary substantially with survey method. An online questionnaire has no interviewer present. No older survey figures appear here for that reason. Each figure below carries its year and group, and an interval wherever the commission gives one.
How many people gamble in Great Britain?
In the 2025 survey, 47% of adults had gambled in the previous four weeks, and 27% had gambled on something other than lottery draws. Over 12 months the figures rise to 59% and 40%.
| Period and setting | Any gambling | Excluding lottery draw-only players |
|---|---|---|
| Past four weeks | 47% | 27% |
| Past 12 months | 59% | 40% |
| Online, past four weeks | 38% | 16% |
Source: Gambling Commission, GSGB annual report 2025 data tables, all adults aged 18 and over. Accessed 9 October 2026.
In person, 17% had gambled in the past four weeks, again excluding lottery draw-only players.
The National Lottery draws were the most common activity in the past four weeks, at 31.0% of adults. Scratchcards followed with 12.2%, and betting of all kinds with 9.8%. Betting on sport and racing online or through an app accounted for 8.4%. Online slots reached 3.3% of adults, online casino games 2.6% and online bingo 2.2%.
The share who gambled has barely moved: 48.0% in 2023, 47.7% in 2024 and 47.4% in 2025. The commission’s trend tables show that change is not statistically significant.
How many people have a high PGSI score?
In 2025, 2.4% of adults aged 18 and over (1.9% to 2.8%) had a PGSI score of 8 or more, the highest group. The commission puts that at approximately 1.3 million adults in Great Britain. Among people who gambled in the past 12 months, the share was 4.0% (3.3% to 4.8%).
| PGSI group | All adults, % (95% CI) | Gambled in past 12 months, % (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Did not gamble | 41.1 (39.9–42.3) | n/a |
| Score 0 | 45.3 (43.9–46.6) | 76.9 (74.5–79.1) |
| Score 1 to 2 | 7.8 (7.0–8.7) | 13.2 (12.0–14.6) |
| Score 3 to 7 | 3.5 (3.0–4.0) | 5.9 (5.2–6.7) |
| Score 8 or more | 2.4 (1.9–2.8) | 4.0 (3.3–4.8) |
Source: Gambling Commission, GSGB annual report 2025 data tables, 2025 survey. Accessed 9 October 2026.
Most adults sit at the low end: 45.3% scored 0, and 41.1% did not gamble in the past 12 months. The commission’s report on consequences from gambling gives the 1.3 million estimate, and this guide calculates no other count of people.
The group has been stable since the survey began: 2.5% in 2023, 2.7% in 2024 and 2.4% in 2025. The commission says the 2025 figure is not statistically different from 2023, and the 2023 figure rests on six months of data collection rather than a full year.
Who is most likely to score 8 or more?
In 2025, a score of 8 or more was more common among men (3.2%) than women (1.6%), and highest among adults under 35. It was also more common in the most deprived areas of England.
| Group | All adults, % (95% CI) | Gambled in past 12 months, % (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 3.2 (2.6–3.9) | 5.3 (4.3–6.5) |
| Women | 1.6 (1.2–2.0) | 2.7 (2.1–3.4) |
| Aged 18 to 24 | 5.0 (3.5–7.0) | 10.4 (7.4–14.4) |
| Aged 25 to 34 | 4.6 (3.7–5.7) | 8.1 (6.6–9.9) |
| Aged 35 to 44 | 2.6 (2.0–3.4) | 4.2 (3.2–5.4) |
| Aged 45 to 54 | 2.3 (1.7–3.2) | 3.7 (2.7–5.0) |
| Aged 55 to 64 | 0.9 (0.6–1.4) | 1.4 (1.0–2.1) |
| Aged 65 to 74 | 0.4 (0.2–0.7) | 0.6 (0.3–1.1) |
| Aged 75 and over | 0.4 (0.2–1.0) | 0.8 (0.3–1.9) |
Source: Gambling Commission, GSGB annual report 2025 data tables, share scoring 8 or more. Accessed 9 October 2026.
The gap between men and women is clear, because the intervals do not overlap. So is the gap between adults under 35 and those aged 55 and over. Among 18 to 24-year-olds who gambled in the past 12 months, 10.4% scored 8 or more. The intervals for 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 overlap, so the survey cannot say which of the two is higher.
The survey gives England 2.4% (2.0% to 3.0%), Scotland 2.2% (1.1% to 4.1%) and Wales 1.7% (0.8% to 3.8%). The intervals overlap, so no ranking follows. In England only, the commission reports 4.5% in the most deprived fifth of areas and 1.2% in the least deprived, with no interval given.
Which types of gambling are linked to higher scores?
Among people who played each activity in the past 12 months, a score of 8 or more was recorded for 22.7% of online casino game players, 21.3% of online slots players and 20.5% of online bingo players, against 4.0% for any gambling. These are associations, not causes.
| Activity, past 12 months | Score 8 or more, % (95% CI) | Times the rate for any gambling |
|---|---|---|
| Any gambling | 4.0 (3.3–4.8) | 1.0 |
| National Lottery draws | 3.7 (3.0–4.6) | 0.9 |
| Scratchcards | 7.1 (5.7–8.8) | 1.8 |
| Sport and racing betting, online or app | 8.9 (7.2–11.0) | 2.2 |
| Online slots | 21.3 (18.0–25.1) | 5.3 |
| Online casino games | 22.7 (18.8–27.0) | 5.7 |
| Online bingo | 20.5 (16.1–25.7) | 5.1 |
Source: Gambling Commission, GSGB annual report 2025 data tables; ratios as calculated by the commission. Accessed 9 October 2026.
The commission’s report also singles out betting on the outcome of non-sports events in person, where the rate was 40.4% (31.9% to 49.6%), about 10 times the average. That group is small, with 193 people in the survey base.
Among adults who gambled in the past four weeks, the average was 2.4 activities, and 16% had played four or more. One person with a high score can therefore appear in several rows of the table.
What harm looks like in the survey
The survey asks people who gambled in the past 12 months about consequences. In 2025, 2.7% reported one or more serious consequences, which the commission says are highly likely to be harmful if experienced at all. The commission’s table gives no confidence interval for these figures.
Relationship breakdown was reported by 1.7%. Losing something of significant financial value, such as a home or a business, was reported by 1.1%, and so was violence or abuse. Committing a crime to fund gambling or to pay gambling debts was reported by 0.9%. Men reported at least one serious consequence more often than women (3.5% against 1.8%), and adults aged 18 to 34 far more often than those aged 55 and over (5.5% against 0.7%).
Other consequences were more common, and the commission treats them as potentially harmful, depending on frequency and circumstances. At least occasionally, cutting back on spending on food, bills or clothing was reported by 6.4%. Lying to family about the extent of gambling was reported by 5.9%. Using savings or borrowing money was reported by 5.8%. One practical step on spending has its own guide: how to block gambling payments with your bank.
Seeking help becomes far more common as the score rises. Overall, 3.4% of people who gambled in the past 12 months had looked for help, support or information about their own gambling. The figure was 0.8% among those with a score of 0 and 47.3% among those with a score of 8 or more.
How gambling affects family and friends
In 2025, 43.2% of all adults said someone close to them gambled, even if only occasionally. Among them, 4.8% had experienced one or more serious consequences of another person’s gambling in the past 12 months. Relationship breakdown was the most common, at 3.3%, followed by violence or abuse (2.1%) and loss of something of significant financial value (1.2%).
Less severe effects were more widespread. At least occasionally, 10.8% reported health problems, including stress and anxiety; 10.0% shame, guilt or embarrassment; and 8.7% conflict and arguments. Looking for help because of someone else’s gambling was reported by 3.3%.
The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is for friends and family as well as for people who gamble.
The gambling market in numbers
The commission’s industry statistics for April 2025 to March 2026, published on 17 September 2026, cover the money side. Their main measure is gross gambling yield (GGY): the money operators keep from stakes after paying out winnings and prizes.
| Measure | Figure | Change on 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| GGY, whole industry | £17.5bn | +4.4% |
| GGY excluding lotteries | £13.2bn | +4.7% |
| Online casino, betting and bingo | £8.3bn | +6.9% |
| In-person venues | £4.9bn | +1.1% |
| Active online accounts, end of last reporting quarter | 25.7 million | n/a |
| Licensed operators, 31 March 2026 | 2,154 | −1.1% |
| Betting shops | 5,617 | −3.6% |
Source: Gambling Commission, industry statistics annual report, April 2025 to March 2026. “n/a” means the commission gives no change. Accessed 9 October 2026.
Within the £8.3bn online total, casino games accounted for £5.7bn (online slots £4.8bn) and betting for £2.4bn. National Lottery sales were £7.9bn, up 0.9%. That is takings from ticket sales, not GGY, so the two should not be added together.
The 25.7 million active online accounts are not 25.7 million people, because one person can hold several, and the statistics give no number of people. At 31 March 2026, 2,154 operators held a licence. What a licence means, and how to recognise online casinos licensed by the Gambling Commission, has its own page. What licensed operators must do about checks and limits is in the guide to affordability checks and deposit limits at licensed casinos.
For online slots alone, the commission’s Market overview for January to March 2026 reported 25.1 billion spins, up 7%, and slots GGY of £773m for the quarter, up 12%. The average session lasted 15 minutes, two minutes shorter than a year earlier. The commission warns against comparing this series with its annual industry statistics. It covers only the largest online operators, may include free bets and bonuses, and some operators changed how they measure session length. It is also the last release of the series.
On self-exclusion, Gamstop’s own data, published on 16 July 2026, showed 614,738 consumers currently on Gamstop Online. New registrations in the first half of 2026 were 16% higher than a year earlier.
What the numbers do not tell you
Survey answers are self-reported, and a survey records one moment, so it shows associations rather than causes. The commission itself describes the survey statistics as estimates that are subject to sampling error. The figures cover Great Britain only. Northern Ireland is not in the commission’s statistics, and no figures for it are given here.
An industry figure such as GGY cannot be divided by a number of adults to give an average loss, because it comes from operators and the survey from individuals, over different periods. These figures describe a population. They cannot tell you whether your own gambling is causing harm. This guide gives general information and is not medical or legal advice.
Where to get free help with gambling
None of the UK gambling statistics above can say what is happening in one person’s life, and support does not depend on a score. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, offers free and confidential support on 0808 8020 133, by phone, live chat or WhatsApp, for yourself, a friend or a family member.
In England, the NHS says you can self-refer to a gambling clinic near you. Gamstop, limits and bank blocks are covered in the guide to free gambling support in Great Britain.
Questions about UK gambling statistics
How many people in the UK have a gambling problem?
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain 2025 found that 2.4% of adults (1.9% to 2.8%) had a PGSI score of 8 or more, which the commission puts at approximately 1.3 million adults in Great Britain. Northern Ireland is not covered. A PGSI score describes a pattern of answers and is not a measure of gambling addiction.
How many adults gamble in Great Britain?
In Great Britain, 47% of adults had gambled in the past four weeks in 2025, and 27% had done so excluding people who only took part in lottery draws. Over 12 months, 59% had gambled, or 40% excluding lottery draw-only players. The National Lottery draws were the most common activity, at 31.0%.
What is a PGSI score, and what does a score of 8 or more mean?
The Problem Gambling Severity Index asks nine questions about the past 12 months and gives a score from 0 to 27. The commission says the PGSI should not be confused with a measure of gambling addiction.
Which types of gambling are linked to the highest rates of harm?
Among people who played in the past 12 months, a score of 8 or more was recorded for 22.7% of online casino game players, 21.3% of online slots players and 20.5% of online bingo players, against 4.0% for any gambling. These are associations, not causes.
How much money do gambling companies make in Great Britain each year?
Gross gambling yield in Great Britain was £17.5bn in the year from April 2025 to March 2026, up 4.4%, including lotteries. Without lotteries it was £13.2bn. GGY is what operators keep from stakes after paying out winnings and prizes, as the Gambling Commission reported on 17 September 2026.
Is gambling harm rising in Great Britain?
On the survey’s figures, no clear change is visible. The share scoring 8 or more was 2.5% in 2023, 2.7% in 2024 and 2.4% in 2025, and the commission calls it stable. Older surveys used other methods, so the commission says they cannot be compared directly with these results.
Sources
- Gambling Commission: Third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain (16 July 2026), accessed 9 October 2026
- Gambling Commission: GSGB annual report 2025 (official statistics), accessed 9 October 2026
- Gambling Commission: GSGB annual report 2025, consequences from gambling, accessed 9 October 2026
- Gambling Commission: GSGB trends report 2023 to 2025 (16 July 2026), accessed 9 October 2026
- Gambling Commission: Guidance on using GSGB statistics (updated 16 July 2026), accessed 9 October 2026
- Gambling Commission: Industry statistics, April 2025 to March 2026 (17 September 2026), accessed 9 October 2026
- Gambling Commission: Market overview, operator data to March 2026 (21 May 2026), accessed 9 October 2026
- Gamstop: Biannual data 2026 (16 July 2026), accessed 9 October 2026
- GamCare: Talk to us now, accessed 9 October 2026
- NHS: Gambling addiction, accessed 8 October 2026