Report
Exploring the relationship between gambling activities and Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores
This report explores the relationship between participation in individual gambling activities in the past 12 months and Problem Gambling Severity Index Scores (PGSI).
Results
The unadjusted odds ratios showed that engagement in every gambling activity, with the exception of National Lottery tickets, was significantly associated with having a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score of 8 or more. The pattern was similar to that reported in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) year 1 (2023) report, whereby activities like betting on other events, either in person or online, gambling on casino games (in person or online or via a machine and or terminal), online gambling on fruit and or slot games and other online instant wins had substantially elevated odd ratios (greater than 10) (see Model 1, Table 1 in the attached Excel file).
When gambling frequency and number of gambling activities were taken into account (Model 2, Table 2 in the attached Excel file) the odds ratios for most activities substantially attenuated, though the association between specific gambling activities and a PGSI score of 8 or more remained significant for most. For example, for betting on non-sports events in person, odd ratios reduced from 24.42 (95 percent CI: 15.41-38.67) to 5.95 (95 percent CI: 3.17-11.18). Likewise odd ratios for gambling on online fruit and slot games reduced from 14.68 (95 percent CI: 10.28-20.96) to 3.72 (95 percent CI: 2.12-6.54). Nonetheless, participation in both activities in the past 12 months were still significantly associated with a PGSI score of 8 or more.
Activities which became non-significant between model 1 and model 2 were charity lotteries, football pools, bingo played in person, betting on sports and or races online and National Lottery online Instant Wins.
Tickets for the National Lottery was the only activity where the odds ratios of a PGSI score of 8 or more was significantly lower (0.41; 95 percent CI: 0.27-0.63) among those that purchased these in the past 12 months than those who did not.
Finally, comparisons between the unadjusted model (model 1) and the further adjusted model (model 3) showed 3 distinct patterns (illustrated in Figures 2-4):
- activities where in the further adjusted model, the odds ratio of a PGSI score of 8 or more was lower among people participating in this activity than those who did not. This applied to Tickets for the National Lottery
- activities in the further adjusted model where engagement in the specific activity was not associated with a PGSI score of 8 or more. This applied to:
- tickets for other charity lottery draws
- National Lottery Scratchcards
- betting on sports and racing online
- National Lottery online instant wins
- football pools
- bingo played online or in person at a venue.
- activities in the further adjusted model which remained significantly associated with a PGSI score of 8 or more, though the odds ratios attenuated. This applied to:
- other scratchcards (non-National Lottery scratchcards)
- other online instant wins (non-National Lottery online instant wins)
- betting on sports and or racing in person
- betting on the outcome of other events (non-sports) either in person on online
- casino games played at a casino
- casino games played online
- casino games played on a machine and or terminal
- fruit and or slot machines played in person
- fruit and or slot games played online.
Figure 2: odds ratios of a PGSI score of 8+ among those purchasing tickets for the National Lottery in the past 12 months
| Logistic regression model type | Odds Ratio | Lower 95 percent confidence interval | Upper 95 percent confidence interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 1: Unadjusted | 0.93 | 0.66 | 1.30 |
| Model 2: Adjusted for number of gambling activities and gambling frequency | 0.41 | 0.27 | 0.63 |
| Model 3: Adjusted for gambling and socio-economic and demographic characteristics | 0.62 | 0.39 | 0.98 |
Figure 3: odds ratios for betting on sports or racing online
| Logistic regression model type | Odds Ratio | Lower 95 percent confidence interval | Upper 95 percent confidence interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 1: Unadjusted | 4.18 | 2.98 | 5.85 |
| Model 2: Adjusted for number of gambling activities and gambling frequency | 0.96 | 0.59 | 1.56 |
| Model 3: Adjusted for gambling and socio-economic and demographic characteristics | 0.78 | 0.47 | 1.28 |
Figure 4: odds ratios of a PGSI score of 8+ among those gambling on fruit and or slot games online in the past 12 months
| Logistic regression model type | Odds Ratio | Lower 95 percent confidence interval | Upper 95 percent confidence interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 1: Unadjusted | 14.68 | 10.28 | 20.96 |
| Model 2: Adjusted for number of gambling activities and gambling frequency | 3.72 | 2.12 | 6.54 |
| Model 3: Adjusted for gambling and socio-economic and demographic characteristics | 3.23 | 1.94 | 5.37 |
PGSI Report - Methods Next section
PGSI Report - Discussion
Last updated: 6 February 2025
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