Report
Exploring demographic differences in adverse consequences from gambling
Examining whether associations between 'at-risk' gambling behaviour (measured using the PGSI) and adverse consequences vary across demographic groups.
Executive summary
This analysis contributes to Theme 3 of our evidence roadmaps, which highlights the need to understand how gambling-related harms are experienced and who may be most at risk. To assess the prevalence of gambling harm within the population, the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) includes a set of survey questions that focus on some of the negative impacts from gambling. The questions distinguish between severe consequences, which are clearly and unequivocally harmful (for example, relationship breakdown or experiences of violence), and potential adverse consequences which vary in severity and can have more cumulative effects on people’s lives (for example, reduced spending on everyday items).
Our previous research suggests that some people may experience potential and severe adverse consequences despite scoring between 0 and 2 (indicating either ‘non-problem’ or ‘low-risk’ gambling) on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). The aim of this report was to explore how associations between PGSI scores and potential and severe adverse consequences vary across different demographic groups.
Key findings
After controlling for other demographics and PGSI scores, participants from ethnic minority backgrounds, those living in lower-income households, and younger participants were more likely to report both potential and severe adverse consequences than their respective comparison groups.
For severe consequences, these demographic differences were broadly similar across the PGSI scale.
For potential adverse consequences, differences by ethnicity and age were most pronounced at lower PGSI scores and reduced as scores increased:
- at a PGSI score of 1 (‘low risk’ gambling), participants aged under 35 had a 7.5 percent predicted probability of reporting one or more potential adverse consequences, compared with 5.5 among those aged 35 and over
- at a PGSI scores of 3 (‘moderate risk’ gambling) and 8 (‘problem’ gambling), younger participants were no more likely than older participants to report ‘one or more’ potential adverse consequences
- at a PGSI score of 1, participants from ethnic minority backgrounds had an 11.8 percent predicted probability of ‘one or more’ potential adverse consequences, compared with 5.5 percent among White participants
- differences by ethnicity narrowed at a PGSI score of 3 (32.3 percent, compared with 24.0 percent) and were no longer evident at a PGSI score of 8 (91.9 percent, compared with 95.6 percent).
These findings reflect an important distinction between at-risk gambling behaviour, which is captured by the PGSI, and the consequences that people experience.
Similar PGSI scores may correspond to different levels of adverse consequences depending on individuals’ wider circumstances, and so relying on PGSI scores alone risks masking important differences in vulnerability across the population. It is therefore important to monitor the prevalence of adverse consequences alongside behavioural risk indicators, such as the PGSI, to ensure we gain a better understanding of gambling-related harm.
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Introduction - Exploring demographic differences in adverse consequences from gambling
Last updated: 16 July 2026
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