British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010
The British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS)
2010 is the third nationally representative survey
of participation in gambling and the prevalence of problem gambling
in Great Britain. It builds on the two previous gambling
prevalence surveys (published in 2000 and 2007).
The BGPS 2010 collects a wide range of gambling related
data to inform policy development. In particular it:
- measures the prevalence of participation in all forms of
commercial and private gambling
- estimates the prevalence of problem gambling
- investigates factors associated with gambling and explores
contextual elements, such as attitudes to gambling and what
motivates people to gamble
- where appropriate provides comparisons between pre- and
post-implementation of the Gambling Act 2005
- identifies a population of gamblers who could be invited
to participate in future research
The findings of the BGPS will be used by the Commission to help
develop policy for the regulation of gambling and to advise the
Secretary of State on gambling issues. It will also provide
information on gambling to the industry, problem gambling charities
and other key stakeholders.
Cross-sectional research, such as the prevalence survey, cannot
generally be used to investigate causal relationships, for example
to explain what causes problem gambling. However, it can be
used to provide insight into range of issues, including a better
understanding of people’s gambling behaviour and their attitudes
towards gambling.
The BGPS is conducted by the National Centre for Social Research,
in collaboration with gambling experts Dr Rachel Volberg, Professor
Mark Griffiths and Professor Jim Orford.
The fieldwork of the BGPS 2010 was completed in early
summer. A sample of over 7,500 respondents was
achieved. The peer reviewed BGPS report will be published
around the turn of the year, in February 2011. Full data set
of the survey will be made available in the UK Data Archive in
spring 2011.