Report
Annual Report and Accounts 2020 to 2021
The Gambling Commission's 2020 to 2021 Annual Report and Accounts
Appendix C - Motivations for gambling – subgroup analysis by statement
The following analysis describes key sub-groups who are more likely to agree or disagree on their motivations for gambling over time for the four statements used on Wave 1 and Wave 3.
Please note, subgroup analysis for those agreeing with these statements should be interpreted directionally due to low base size.
I use gambling to supplement my income on a regular basis
Between waves 1 and 3, several demographic and behavioural sub-groups have been observed to be more likely to agree or disagree with the statement “I use gambling to supplement my income on a regular basis”. Among those who agreed in either wave of tracking, around 1 in 10 (12 percent) gamblers reported to agree with the statement. Conversely, among those who disagreed in either wave, 9 in 10 (88 percent) reported disagreeing.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to agree with this statement, the following stood out: -non-white individuals
- those with children under 18 years
- those with more than 5 people in the household
- individuals with a university degree
- those currently working
- those who identified as single.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to disagree with this statement, the following stood out:
- the majority of white individuals
- those without children, and those with secondary education
- households with only one or two people
- individuals with physical conditions
- those not currently working or retired
- individuals in married or widowed or separated or divorced status.
These groups all displayed a tendency to disagree with the idea of using gambling as a means to supplement their income.
I use gambling to help pay household bills
Between wave 1 and wave 3, several sub-groups based on demographic and behavioural metrics have been observed to be more likely to agree or disagree with the statement “I use gambling to help pay household bills”. Among those who agreed in either wave, around 1 in 10 (8 percent) gamblers reported to agree with the statement whilst 9 in 10 (91 percent) of those who disagreed in either wave reported disagreeing.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to agree with this statement, the following stood out:
- those likely to identify as non-white
- those with children aged 18 years or under
- households with more than 4 or more people
- individuals with a university degree
- those currently employed.
All these sub-groups stand out as groups showing agreement with using gambling as a financial resource for household bills.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to disagree with this statement the following stood out:
- those earning between £14,000 to £21,000
- those without children aged 18 years or under
- individuals with secondary education
- households with up to two 2 people.
- Participants with a physical condition, those not currently working and retired, homeowners, individuals of white ethnicity, and those in the widowed, separated or divorced category also expressed disagreement with using gambling to help in meeting household bills.
I use gambling to pay for luxuries I wouldn't normally buy
Between wave 1 and wave 3 several sub-groups based on demographic and behavioural metrics have been observed to be more likely to agree or disagree with the statement “I use gambling to pay for luxuries I wouldn't normally buy”. On average, across the three waves of tracking, around 1 in 10 gamblers reported (13 percent) to agree with the statement whilst 8 in 10 (86 percent) reported disagreeing.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to agree with this statement, the following stood out:
- a portion of this cohort comprises of individuals likely to identify as non-white
- families with children aged 18 years or under
- households with more than 4 people
- individuals currently working
- those who own a house with a mortgage.
These all stand out as groups expressing agreement with using gambling to fund luxuries.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to disagree with this statement, the following stood out:
- those with an income up to £21,000
- white individuals
- those without children aged 18 years or under
- individuals with secondary education
- households with only 1 or 2 people
- those with a physical condition,
- individuals not currently working or retired
- those that are widowed, separated or divorced.
I use gambling to help offset loans and/or credit card debt
Between wave 1 and wave 3 several sub-groups based on demographic and behavioural metrics have been observed to be more likely to agree or disagree with the statement “I use gambling to help offset loans and/or credit card debt”. On average, across the three waves of tracking, a little less than 1 in 10 gamblers reported (7 percent) to agree with the statement whilst around 9 in 10 (92 percent) reported disagreeing.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to agree with this statement, the following stood out:
- individuals with an income of £55,000 or more
- non-white people
- those with children aged 18 years or under
- those with a university degree
- households with 4 or more people
- those currently working, individuals owning a house with a mortgage.
These all showed a tendency to agree with using gambling to offset financial obligations.
Of the sub-groups analysed that were most likely to disagree with this statement, the following stood out:
- individuals with children aged 18 years or under
- individuals with secondary education
- households with 1 or 2 people
- those with a physical condition
- individuals not currently working or retired
- those that are widowed, separated or divorced
- those who own their home outright
- non-white people.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
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