Three Years of Comparable Data Emerge from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain

The UK Gambling Commission released the third annual report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain on 16 July 2026, and observers note this marks the first occasion three consecutive years of comparable official statistics covering 2023 through 2025 have become available on participation, behaviours, attitudes and consequences across the country. Researchers designed the survey around approximately 20,000 respondents each year, which produces a dataset large enough to track patterns over time while maintaining consistent methodology from one wave to the next. Data indicates headline participation remained stable, with 47 percent of adults reporting they had gambled in the past four weeks, while the figure drops to 27 percent when lottery-only players are removed from the calculation.

Survey Methodology and Scope

Those who constructed the Gambling Survey for Great Britain aimed for continuity across annual waves, and this approach allows direct year-on-year comparisons that earlier fragmented data sources could not support. The sample size of around 20,000 adults per year provides sufficient statistical power for national estimates while capturing regional variations within Great Britain. Experts have observed that consistent questioning on participation, problem gambling indicators and attitudes produces reliable trend lines rather than isolated snapshots, and the 2026 release therefore supplies the first multi-year benchmark since the survey series began.

Participation Rates Across Three Years

Figures reveal that overall gambling participation held steady at 47 percent of adults in the past four weeks across the three reporting periods, while the adjusted rate excluding lottery-only players stayed at 27 percent. These numbers reflect responses collected through the same survey instrument each year, which reduces the risk that changes in measurement rather than behaviour drive apparent shifts. Researchers discovered that lottery draws continue to account for a substantial share of reported activity, yet the core participation level outside lotteries shows little movement between 2023 and 2025. And this stability emerges even as the survey captures a wide range of gambling formats from in-person betting shops to online platforms.

Attitudes Toward Gambling and Motivations

Respondents identified the chance of winning big money as the leading reason for gambling, with 84 percent citing this factor in their answers. The survey instrument presented multiple possible motivations and allowed participants to select all that applied, which produces a detailed picture of why adults engage with gambling products. Data shows this financial incentive remained the dominant response across all three years, while other factors such as entertainment or social reasons appeared at lower but consistent rates. Those analysing teh results note that the question structure stayed identical, enabling direct comparison of motivational profiles from 2023 onward.

Problem Gambling Indicators

Problem gambling rates measured by a PGSI score of 8 or higher remained stable at 2.4 percent across the three annual waves. The Problem Gambling Severity Index forms part of the standard questionnaire, and consistent administration allows researchers to track this threshold without methodological drift. Evidence suggests the proportion of respondents meeting the higher-risk criteria did not fluctuate significantly between 2023 and 2025, which provides a baseline for future monitoring. Observers note that the survey also collects data on a broader range of PGSI scores, yet the headline 2.4 percent figure receives particular attention because it corresponds to the most severe category.

Release Context in July 2026

The Commission published the report on 16 July 2026, and this timing supplies the third data point in a now-established annual series. Government statisticians and policy teams receive the findings shortly after fieldwork concludes, which supports timely review of participation and harm indicators. The availability of three comparable years allows analysts to distinguish between short-term fluctuations and longer-term patterns, and the 2026 release therefore functions as a milestone in the survey programme. Links to the full dataset appear on the official site, where users can access detailed tables and methodology notes for further examination.

Conclusion

The third annual Gambling Survey for Great Britain report delivers the first multi-year comparable statistics on participation, attitudes and problem gambling indicators, and the stable headline figures across 2023 to 2025 provide a clear reference point for ongoing monitoring. With consistent methodology and a large annual sample, the survey continues to track how adults in Great Britain engage with gambling products and the reasons they cite for doing so. The 16 July 2026 publication therefore strengthens the evidence base available to researchers and regulators tracking these trends over time.