UK Gambling Commission Releases Third GSGB Report with Three Years of Comparable Data

The Gambling Commission has published the third annual report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, delivering the first set of three consecutive years of comparable official statistics covering 2023 through 2025 and drawing on responses from more than 20,000 adults across the country.

Survey Scope and Data Collection

Researchers gathered responses through a structured approach that allows direct year-over-year comparisons, and the resulting dataset tracks participation levels, behavioural patterns, public attitudes, and reported harms in a consistent format that previous surveys could not achieve. This consistency means analysts can now follow trends without the breaks that earlier methodologies introduced, while the large sample size provides a solid base for national estimates on how adults engage with gambling products.

Participation Patterns Across Activities

Lottery games and sports betting continue to rank among the most common activities according to the figures, with participation rates holding steady across the three-year window rather than showing sharp rises or drops. The data breaks down engagement by product type and highlights that these two categories draw the largest shares of participants, while other forms such as casino games and online slots appear at lower but still measurable levels. Observers note that the stability in these areas occurs even as regulatory changes continue to shape the market, and the survey captures attitudes toward responsible play alongside the raw participation numbers.

Problem Gambling Rate Remains Steady

The problem gambling rate sits at 2.4 percent across the latest reporting period, matching the level recorded in the prior two years and indicating no statistically significant movement in this key indicator. The report presents this figure alongside additional measures of gambling-related harm, giving policymakers and researchers a clearer view of how harms distribute across different demographic groups and activity types. Because the methodology stayed consistent, any future shifts will stand out more clearly against this established baseline.

Attitudes and Harms in Context

Respondents shared views on the perceived risks and benefits of gambling, and the results show a steady proportion expressing concern about harms while another segment reports neutral or positive experiences. The survey also records self-reported harms such as financial strain or relationship difficulties, allowing the Commission to map these outcomes against participation frequency and product choice. Those patterns help identify where interventions might focus, although the report itself stops at presenting the data without prescribing specific actions.

Release Timing and Regulatory Developments

The publication arrives as the industry prepares for further regulatory adjustments scheduled for 2026, and the three-year dataset offers a reference point against which the effects of those changes can later be measured. In July 2026 the Commission continues to refine its monitoring tools, and this report supplies the longitudinal view needed to assess whether new rules alter participation or harm rates over time. The statistics link directly to ongoing policy discussions without drawing conclusions about cause and effect.

Conclusion

The third annual GSGB report establishes a reliable three-year benchmark that researchers and regulators can use going forward, and the steady problem gambling rate alongside consistent participation in lotteries and sports betting provides a factual snapshot of current conditions in Great Britain. The Gambling Survey for Great Britain (Annual Report 2025): Official statistics will serve as a foundation for tracking any shifts that emerge after the next wave of regulatory updates.