Consultation response
Participation and prevalence research
From December 2020 to February 2021 we consulted on the proposals to change how we collect adult gambling participation and problem gambling prevalence statistics.
Contents
- Executive summary - participation and prevalence research
- Introduction - participation and prevalence research
- Summary of responses - participation and prevalence research
- - Introduction to summary of responses
- - Proposal 1: Single survey for Great Britain
- - Proposal 2: Consolidation of current surveys
- - Proposal 3: Participation questions
- - Proposal 4: Frequency and turnaround time
- - Proposal 5: Explore more future proof methods
- - Proposal 6: Survey pilot
- Annex A: List of consultation responses
Executive summary - participation and prevalence research
From December 2020-February 2021, we consulted on proposals to change the research methodology we use to collect adult gambling participation and problem gambling prevalence statistics. This is a data collection duty set by the Gambling Act 2005 and the data is also official statistics.
The consultation offset a limited scope related to this duty, with a focus on core participation and prevalence measurement. The aim is to provide the strongest possible foundation which we, and other interested parties can base further work on. We recognise that deficiencies currently exist in the wider system for measuring gambling harms and will continue our commitment to play our part in addressing these, through a combination of our own wider research programme and external research by partner organisations.
Our consultation outlined proposals to improve the quality, robustness and timeliness of our participation and prevalence official statistics. Specifically, the proposals sought to:
- develop a single, gold standard population survey for the whole of Great Britain
- consolidate current surveys into one population survey
- review and refresh the gambling activities included in the participation questions
- improve the frequency and turnaround time of the survey data
- explore more future proof data collection methods
- implement a new methodology from 2022, subject to a satisfactory pilot.
The consultation outlined the aim to develop a single, high quality methodology to measure participation and prevalence which will be more efficient, cost effective and timely, helping us to respond quickly to emerging consumer issues. We believe that a new approach will enable us to set the standard for authoritative research into gambling.
We received 62 valid responses to the consultation which ran for 10 weeks. This document summarises the responses received and explains our position on each proposal.
Our proposals were well supported, with an average of two-thirds of respondents agreeing with our proposals and only one in five disagreeing. On this basis, we intend to proceed with our plans to pilot a new approach in 2021/22 and subject to its successful completion, move to implementing a new methodology on a permanent basis from 2022/23.
Contents page Next section
Introduction - participation and prevalence research
Last updated: 23 June 2021
Show updates to this content
No changes to show.