Gambling participation and problem gambling

Gambling behaviour is increasingly a subject of public health and policy interest. We regularly collect data on gambling both in terms of information about the consumer and about the method and frequency with which they gamble.

We collect participation data through quarterly telephone and online surveys and problem gambling data from the Health survey for England, Scottish health survey, and our Welsh problem gambling survey. We also monitor underage gambling using our young persons survey.

*9 March 2017: a correction has been made at figure 43 of the report.

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This data provides the most robust information to date on gambling participation and problem gambling in Great Britain and provides a baseline for any future changes in gambling activity.

Gambling participation

48%	of people have gambled in the past four weeks
53%	of men have gambled in the past four weeks
44%	of women have gambled in the past four weeks
17%	of people have gambled online in the past four weeks

Online gambling behaviour (year to Dec 2016)

97%	of online gamblers gamble at home
55%	of online gamblers gamble using a laptop
43%	of online gamblers gamble using a mobile or tablet device
26%	of online gamblers have bet in-play in the past four weeks

Problem gambling

0.5%	of people aged 16+ in England identify as problem gamblers (2012)
0.7%	of people aged 16+ in Scotland identify as problem gamblers (2015)
1.1%	of people aged 16+ in Wales identify as problem gamblers (2015)

Click the picture for more graphics on online behaviour

Click the picture for more graphics on gambling participation

Our activity also supports the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board's (RGSB) objectives to advise on strategic priorities for research, education and treatment into minimising gambling-related harm. The RGSB sets the strategy for research priorities, with a programme of research being delivered by GambleAware. 

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