Report
Gambling Survey for Great Britain - Annual report (2023): Official statistics
Gambling Survey for Great Britain - annual report (2023): Official statistics
Additional adverse consequences from gambling
This section cross refers to information that can be found in an accompanying set of data tables, specifically Tables D.1 to D.16.
Background
Commercial gambling can generate a range of adverse consequences for individuals, families, communities, and society. Evidence shows that it is associated with financial difficulties, including debt and bankruptcy, relationship conflict and breakdown and increases risks of suicide and domestic violence1. The Gambling Commission has developed a new set of questions covering these topics to be used in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). They were refined during the pilot and experimental statistics stages of GSGB development. Fuller details on their development can be found in Measuring the adverse consequences from gambling.
The new questions were developed to measure a broad range of adverse consequences from gambling and were split into 2 types:
Those categorised as severe adverse consequences, where any experience of them is highly likely to be harmful.
Those categorised as other potential adverse consequences, which are more likely to be harmful if experienced often or may be harmful depending on the individual’s specific circumstances2.
In this section, the adverse consequences experienced because of one’s own gambling are considered, focusing on severe consequences first then other potential adverse consequences. In addition, questions about experience of suicidal thoughts and suicidal attempts are also considered. Usage of support services are then reported. The chapter concludes with severe consequences and other potential adverse consequences experienced because of someone else’s gambling.
Definitions
Severe adverse consequences
The set of questions asked in the GSGB included 4 severe consequences. These were:
- losing something of significant financial value (that is, home, job, business and so on) because of gambling
- relationship with spouse or partner or family member breaking down because of gambling
- experiencing violence or abuse because of gambling
- committing a crime to fund gambling or pay gambling debts.
Answer options were yes or no.
Potential adverse consequences
In addition to asking about some adverse consequences that are captured within the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) (for example, whether gambling caused health problems, made them feel guilty or bet more they can afford to lose) participants were also asked how often they experienced an additional 6 potential adverse consequences from gambling. These were gambling causing them to:
- reduce or cut back their spending on everyday items such as food, bills and clothing
- use their savings or increase their use of credit
- experience conflict or arguments with friends, family and/or work colleagues
- feel isolated from other people, left out or feel completely alone
- lie to family, or others, to hide the extent of their gambling
- to be absent or perform poorly at work or study.
Answer options were ‘never’, ‘occasionally’, ‘fairly often’ and ‘very often’.
These questions were asked of all participants who had gambled in the past 12 months. Participants were asked to consider whether their own gambling led them to experience any of the severe or potential adverse consequences listed.
Whether close to someone who gambles
All participants, irrespective of their gambling behaviour, were asked if they knew someone close to them who gambled. If so, they were asked to think about whether someone else’s gambling had led them (the participant) to experience each of the severe or potential adverse consequence listed.
Three additional potential adverse consequences were asked of those thinking about the impact of someone else’s gambling. These were how often someone else’s gambling had caused them to:
- borrow money or selling things to get money
- experience health problems, including stress or anxiety
- feel embarrassment, shame or guilt.
Suicidal ideation and attempts
In addition to the severe consequences asked about, all participants were asked if they had thought about taking their own life or made an attempt to take their own life in the past 12 months, using questions developed by the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Those who experienced this were asked whether this was related to their gambling. Response options were: not at all, a little, a lot.
Consequences from an individuals’ own gambling
The figures presented throughout the rest of this section relate to participants who had gambled in the past 12 months.
Severe consequences from own gambling
Overall, 2.8 percent of participants who had gambled in the past 12 months reported experiencing at least one severe consequence. Rates were higher among male participants (3.5 percent) than female participants (2.1 percent) and were higher among younger adults (5.9 percent for those aged 18 to 34) than older adults (0.7 percent for those aged 55 and over). The same pattern by age was repeated for each of the separate consequences, with younger adults more likely to experience each severe consequence than older adults (Table D.6).
Figure 18: Proportion who gambled in the past 12 months experiencing severe consequences due to own gambling
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who had gambled in the last 12 months (5,865 unweighted)
| Severe consequences | All participants: Gambled in the past 12 months (percentage) |
|---|---|
| Experienced relationship breakdown | 1.6% |
| Lost something of financial value | 1.4% |
| Experienced violence or abuse | 1.1% |
| Committed a crime | 0.8% |
| Experienced one or more severe consequences | 2.8% |
Relationship breakdown due to gambling was the most reported severe consequence: 1.6 percent of participants who had gambled in the past 12 months experienced this. This was followed by losing something of significant value (1.4 percent), experience of violence or abuse (1.1 percent), and committing a crime (0.8 percent).
Male participants were more likely than female participants to report losing something of financial value (1.9 percent compared with 0.9 percent) and to experience violence or abuse (1.6 percent compared with 0.7 percent).
Gambling and suicidality
All participants reported their experience of suicidal ideation or attempts, and whether this was related to their gambling. Overall, 11.4 percent of all participants reported that they had either thought about taking their own life or had attempted to do so in the past 12 months. These estimates are higher than those reported by the most recent Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (opens in new tab) (PDF) (APMS) in 20143, which estimated that 5.4 percent had thought about suicide in the past 12 months and 0.7 percent had attempted suicide in the past 12 months (comparable estimates for whether someone had experienced either of these is not available within published reports). The published APMS 2014 data were based on questions asked face-to-face by the interviewer which the APMS authors state will result in lower reports than when self-completion methods are used. Therefore, whilst the GSGB data on suicidality may be over stated, comparable data from APMS may be under stated. Because there is uncertainty as to which estimate is closer to the truth, data on gambling-related suicidality is presented for those who reported past year thoughts about taking their own life or attempts only. Population prevalence estimates are not presented (Table D.7).
Of the 11.4 percent of all participants who reported thoughts about taking their own life or attempts, 4.9 percent reported that this was related to their gambling either a little or a lot. 1.1 percent reported it was related to their gambling a lot.
Other potential adverse consequences from participants’ own gambling
For each potential adverse consequence asked about, around 1 in 20 of those who had gambled in the past 12 months reported that their gambling, at least occasionally, resulted in each one. Estimates ranged from 6.7 percent for reducing or cutting back spending on everyday items to 4.0 percent for being absent from or performing poorly at work or study (Table D.8).
Figure 19: Proportion who gambled in the past 12 months experiencing potential adverse consequences due to own gambling
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who had gambled in the last 12 months (5,829 unweighted)
| Potential adverse consequences | Very often (percentage) | Fairly often (percentage) | Occasionally (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce spending on everyday items | 0.9% | 1.5% | 4.2% |
| Lie to family | 1.1% | 1.3% | 4.0% |
| Feel isolated | 1.4% | 1.0% | 3.1% |
| Used savings or borrowed money | 0.8% | 1.4% | 3.0% |
| Experienced conflict or arguments | 0.9% | 1.0% | 3.2% |
| Absent at work | 0.6% | 1.2% | 2.2% |
Male participants were more likely than female participants to report having at least occasionally cut back spending on everyday items (7.7 percent for males; 5.6 percent for females). Male participants were also more likely to have experienced conflict (6.2 percent for males; 4.9 percent for females) and lied to family and friends to hide the extent of their gambling (7.9 percent for males; 3.9 percent for females).
Younger adults who had gambled in the past 12 months were more likely than their older counterparts to have, at least occasionally, experienced each potential adverse consequence. They were also more likely to experience each consequence fairly or very often. For example, 10.1 percent of those aged 18 to 34 reported that their gambling at least occasionally resulted in them feeling isolated from other people, compared with 1.8 percent for those aged 55 and over.
Around a third of people reporting each consequence said they experienced this either fairly or very often. Among people who had gambled in the past 12 months, estimates ranged from 1.8 percent who performed poorly or were absent from work or study, to 2.5 percent who reduced or cut back on spending on everyday items fairly or very often.
Figure 20: Proportion who gambled in the past 12 months experiencing potential adverse consequences at least occasionally from own gambling, by age group
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who had gambled in the last 12 months (5,829 unweighted)
| Potential adverse consequences | 18 to 34 (percentage) | 35 to 54 (percentage) | 55 and over (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lie to family | 12.2% | 6.5% | 2.2% |
| Reduce spending on everyday items | 12.0% | 7.2% | 2.6% |
| Used savings or borrowed money | 10.5% | 5.2% | 1.6% |
| Feel isolated | 10.1% | 5.7% | 1.8% |
| Experienced conflict or arguments | 9.4% | 5.4% | 1.6% |
| Absent at work | 8.4% | 3.9% | 0.9% |
Help-seeking for own gambling
Participants were asked if their gambling had led them to seek support or information (by any means) from mental health services, food banks or welfare organisations, relationship counselling services or gambling support services.
Overall, 3.2 percent of people who had gambled in the past 12 months had sought support from any of these services because of their own gambling. This ranged from 1.9 percent seeking support or information from food banks or welfare organisations to 1.0 percent who sought help from gambling support services. Help-seeking estimates were mostly similar for male and female participants. The exception was use of foodbanks or welfare organisations, where use was higher among male than female participants (2.3 percent and 1.5 per cent respectively). Help-seeking estimates were consistently higher among younger adults than older adults (7.4 percent of those aged 18 to 34 had accessed any support compared with 0.9 percent of those aged 55 and over)(Table D.9).
More than half (58 percent) of those with a PGSI score of 8 or more did not report seeking support or information from any source in the past 12 months. The most common sources of help among this group were food bank or welfare organisations (28.2 percent), followed by mental health services (20.1 percent) and relationship counselling (18.7 percent). Seeking help from gambling support services was the least common source reported (15.3 percent)(Table D.10).
One in ten (10.1 percent) of those with a PGSI score of 3 to 7 reported seeking help or information from any of the sources mentioned, including 3.7 percent who sought help or information from gambling support services. Among those with a PGSI scores of 0 or 1 to 2, less than 1 percent reported that their own gambling had resulted in them seeking help or information from each individual service. Whilst these estimates are lower than those with PGSI score of 3 or more, this group represents many people who have gambled in the past 12 months and indicates the need for help services among some of them.
Figure 21: Proportion who gambled in the past 12 months seeking help, support or information due to own gambling, by PGSI score
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who had gambled in the last 12 months (5,819 unweighted)
| Type of help, support or information sought | PGSI score of 0 (percentage) | PGSI score of 1 or 2 (percentage) | PGSI score of 3 to 7 (percentage) | PGSI score of 8 to 27 (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental health services | 0.3% | 0.7% | 3.3% | 20.1% |
| Food banks or welfare organisations | 0.3% | 0.9% | 5.9% | 28.2% |
| Relationship counselling and support services | 0.3% | 0.2% | 3.5% | 18.7% |
| Gambling support services | 0.1% | 0.3% | 3.7% | 15.3% |
| Access to any support | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10.1% | 42.1% |
The relationship between severe consequences and other potential adverse consequences from own gambling and PGSI scores
The experience of adverse consequences (severe or otherwise) from gambling is not restricted to those with the highest PGSI scores. As noted at the outset of this chapter, those with a PGSI score of 3 to 7 are defined as those who may experience adverse consequences from gambling whilst those with a PGSI score of 1 to 2 are unlikely to do so unless they also meet other criteria.
Looking first at severe consequences, 41.3 percent of those with a PGSI score of 8 or more reported experiencing at least one of the severe consequences asked about (Table D.11). Equivalent estimates were 7.9 percent for those with a PGSI score of 3 to 7, 1.4 percent for those with a PGSI score of 1 to 2, and 0.6 percent for those with a PGSI score of 0. This demonstrates how experience of severe consequences can be distributed across individuals with a range of PGSI scores: a PGSI score of less than 3 does not necessarily mean that no severe consequences are experienced by anyone in this group.
Figure 22: Proportion who gambled in the past 12 months experiencing severe consequences due to own gambling, by PGSI score
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who had gambled in the last 12 months (5,822 unweighted)
| Severe consequences | PGSI score of 0 (percentage) | PGSI score of 1 or 2 (percentage) | PGSI score of 3 to 7 (percentage) | PGSI score of 8 to 27 (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost something of financial value | 0.2% | 0.6% | 3.9% | 21.7%% |
| Experienced relationship breakdown | 0.1% | 0.6% | 5.2% | 26.9% |
| Experienced violence or abuse | 0.2% | 0.6% | 1.4% | 20.5% |
| Committed a crime | 0.0% | 0.1% | 1.8% | 16.4% |
| Experienced one or more severe consequences | 0.6% | 1.4% | 7.9% | 41.3% |
As for other potential adverse consequences, those with higher PGSI scores were more likely to report experiencing each potential adverse consequence from gambling (Table D.12). The vast majority of those with a PGSI score of 8 or more reported experiencing each, though notably around 1 in 3 said that gambling had never resulted in them being absent from or performing poorly at work or study (35.2 percent), experiencing conflict or abuse (30.7 percent) or feeling socially isolated (29.5 percent).
Among those with a PGSI score of 3 to 7, estimates ranged from 30.7 percent (at least occasionally lying to family or others to hide extent of gambling) to 11.6 percent (at least occasionally being absent from or performing poorly at work or study). Between 3.9 percent (reducing spending on everyday essentials) and 8.3 percent (lying to family or others to hide extent of gambling) reported experiencing each consequence fairly or very often.
Although it was far less common, a minority of participants with a PGSI score of 1 to 2 or of 0 reported experiencing other potential adverse consequences from gambling. For example, 1.0 percent of those with a PGSI score of 0 reported at least occasionally reducing spending on everyday items because of their gambling, with 0.3 percent doing this fairly or very often. Further, 5.2 percent of those with a PGSI score of 1 to 2 reported lying to family or others to hide the extent of their gambling at least occasionally, with 0.5 percent doing this fairly or very often. As before, this provides evidence that some people with a PGSI score of less than 3 may also experience some potential adverse consequences from gambling.
Consequences from someone else’s gambling
The GSGB included a range of questions about the impact of someone else’s gambling, an area that has previously been little studied, particularly in a British context. These questions cover the same set of severe and potential adverse consequences outlined previously in this chapter.
Close contacts who gamble
Nearly half (47.9 percent) of GSGB survey participants reported that someone close to them gambled even if only occasionally (Table D.13). This is likely to be an underestimate of the true level of gambling among close contacts, since a positive response to the question relies on the survey participant being aware of the actions of people close to them, and gambling can be easily overlooked, concealed or hidden. Nonetheless, the figure suggests that nearly half of the population are aware that someone close to them gambles. This is in line with estimates of gambling in the past 4 weeks (48 percent), but lower than estimates of gambling in the past 12 months (61 percent).
Female participants (49.1 percent) were more likely than male participants (46.4 percent) to report having a close contact who gambles. Likewise, rates were higher among younger adults (56.6 percent among those aged 18 to 34) and decreased with age (40.3 percent for those aged 55 and over).
Severe consequences due to someone else’s gambling
The figures presented in the rest of this section relate to participants who indicated that someone close to them gambled.
Of participants who knew someone close to them gambled, 4.7 percent reported experiencing at least one severe consequence from someone else’s gambling. They were most likely to report relationship breakdown (3.5 percent), followed by violence or abuse (1.6 percent), a significant financial impact (1.1 percent) and committing a crime (1.0 percent)(Table D.14).
Figure 23: Proportion who are close to someone who gambles, experiencing severe consequences, due to someone else's gambling
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who knew someone who had gambled in the last 12 months (4,537 unweighted)
| Severe consequences | All participants reporting someone close to them gambles (percentage) |
|---|---|
| Experienced relationship breakdown | 3.5% |
| Experienced violence or abuse | 1.6% |
| Committed a crime | 1.0% |
| Lost something of financial value | 1.1% |
| Experienced one or more severe consequences | 4.7% |
Male (4.5 percent) and female (4.8 percent) participants were equally likely to experience at least one of the severe consequences listed, though female participants (3.9 percent) were more likely to report relationship breakdown than male participants (3.0 percent). Conversely, male participants (1.5 percent) were more likely than female participants (0.6 percent) to report committing a crime as a result of someone else’s gambling.
Younger adults were more likely to experience at least one severe consequence: 6.4 percent of those aged 18 to 34 said they had experienced at least one of the four severe consequences, compared with 4.7 percent of those aged 35 to 54 and 2.9 percent of those aged 55 and over. This pattern was repeated for relationship breakdown, violence, and criminal activities. The only severe consequence where age was not a significant factor was experience of a significant financial loss, with the percentage of participants reporting they had lost something of financial value not differing between age groups. Young people are therefore potentially more likely to experience adverse consequences from someone else’s gambling. This group were also more likely to gamble themselves, more likely to report experiencing adverse consequences from their own gambling, and more likely to report knowing someone close to them who gambled.
Across all age groups, relationship breakdown because of someone else’s gambling was the most reported severe consequence. Notably, nearly all severe consequences experienced by those aged 55 and over were attributable to relationship breakdown (Figure 24).
For those aged 35 and over, committing a crime because of someone else’s gambling was the least commonly reported: 1.0 percent for those aged 35 to 54 and 0.4 percent for those aged 55 and over.
Figure 24: Proportion who are close to someone who gambles, experiencing severe consequences due to someone else's gambling, by age group
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who knew someone who had gambled in the last 12 months (4,537 unweighted)
| Severe consequences | 18 to 34 (percentage) | 35 to 54 (percentage) | 55 and over (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experienced relationship breakdown | 4.6% | 3.3% | 2.6% |
| Experienced violence or abuse | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.9% |
| Committed a crime | 1.6% | 1.0% | 0.4% |
| Lost something of financial value | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Experienced one or more severe consequences | 6.4% | 4.7% | 2.9% |
Taken together, GSGB data suggests several participants experience severe consequences as a result of someone else’s gambling. Whilst overall there is a risk that adverse consequences within the GSGB may be overstated, when it comes to these specific questions, the data are likely to be conservative as they rely on the participant being fully aware of their close contact’s gambling and the effects of this. As previously discussed, those with a PGSI score of 8 or more were most likely to lie to family and others to hide the extent of their gambling. This group were also most likely to experience adverse consequences from gambling, which in turn, is more likely to impact those around them. Thus, an individual may experience relationship breakdown or violence, for example, but be unaware of how the gambling behaviours of others contribute to this.
Other potential adverse consequences due to someone else’s gambling
Participants who indicated that someone close to them gambled were also asked about a range of other potential adverse consequences that may have occurred because of someone else’s gambling (Table D.15).
As with the questions concerning severe consequences, these figures may be an underestimate as they rely on participant awareness of gambling leading to the negative behaviour.
The most reported potential adverse consequence of someone else’s gambling was experiencing health problems, including stress and anxiety: 7.5 percent reported this happened occasionally, with 3.1 percent saying this happened fairly or very often. This was followed by experiencing embarrassment, guilt or shame (9.9 percent experiencing this at least occasionally) and experience of conflict or arguments (8.8 percent experiencing this at least occasionally). The least reported potential adverse consequence was absence from, or poor performance at work or study, with 3.0 percent reporting that this happened at least occasionally.
Figure 25: Proportion who are close to someone who gambles, experiencing potential adverse consequences due to someone else's gambling
Base: Adults aged 18 and over who knew someone who had gambled in the last 12 months (4,537 unweighted)
| Potential adverse consequences | Very often (percentage) | Fairly often (percentage) | Occasionally (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experienced health problems | 1.3% | 1.7% | 7.5% |
| Experienced embarrassment, guilt or shame | 1.3% | 1.9% | 6.7% |
| Experienced conflict or arguments | 0.7% | 1.5% | 6.5% |
| Lie to family | 1.0% | 1.0% | 4.0% |
| Reduce spending on everyday items | 0.8% | 1.2% | 2.8% |
| Used savings or borrowed money | 0.7% | 1.0% | 2.8% |
| Borrowed money | 0.5% | 1.2% | 2.0% |
| Absent at work | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
There were no differences by sex in experiencing any potential adverse consequences, with the exception of someone else’s gambling leading to health problems. Here, female participants (12.5 percent) were more likely than male participants (8.6 percent) to report this happening at least occasionally.
Experiencing the following potential adverse consequences varied by age for the following items: experience of conflict, feeling isolated, and lying to family or others. The general pattern was that younger adults were more likely than older adults to report experiencing each at least occasionally. For example, 11.2 percent of those aged 18 to 34 said they, at least occasionally, experienced conflict due to someone else’s gambling, with 3.2 percent saying it had happened fairly or very often. Equivalent estimates for those aged 55 and over were 6.3 percent and 1.3 percent.
For reduced spending, use of savings, and absence from work, estimates did not vary significantly by age.
Help seeking due to someone else’s gambling
Participants who reported that someone close to them gambled were asked whether they had sought any help, support or information, either online, in-person or by telephone, because of this (Table D.16).
Three percent of these participants had sought out some form of support, with a similar proportion of participants reporting each form of support; ranging between 1.2 for mental health services or relationship counselling and 1.5 for gambling support services.
Figure 26: Proportion who are close to someone else who gambles seeking help, support or information in the last 12 months due to others gambling, by sex
Base: Adults aged 18 and over and reporting that someone close to them gambles (4,537 unweighted)
| Source of support | Male (percentage) | Female (percentage) |
|---|---|---|
| Food banks or welfare organisations | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Gambling support services | 1.2% | 1.7% |
| Relationship counselling and support services | 1.0% | 1.4% |
| Mental health services | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Access to any support | 2.7% | 3.3% |
Female participants were more likely than male participants to have accessed mental health services due to someone else’s gambling (1.7 percent of females compared with 0.6 percent of males). However, differences in accessing food banks or welfare services, relationship support, or gambling support services did not vary between male and female participants.
Younger adults (4.2 percent of those aged 18 to 34) were more likely than older adults (2.7 percent of those aged 35 to 54; 2.3 percent of those aged 55 and over) to access any form of support due to someone else’s gambling in the past 12 months, though no single service appeared more commonly than others.
References
1Slutske et al. (2022)(opens new tab), Marionneau & Nikkinen (2022)(opens new tab), Wardle et al. (2023)(opens new tab), Rintoul et al. (2023)(opens new tab), Gray et al.(2020)(opens new tab), Hing et al.(2022) (opens new tab), Dowling et al. (2018)(opens new tab), Soumi et al.(2022)(opens new tab)
2Qualitative research conducted with participants reporting each potential adverse consequence occasionally supported this whereby many participants felt minimal impacts from the occasional experience of each but others reported more serious effects.
3APMS 2014 did not include questions on gambling, though these were in the 2007 survey. APMS 2021, due to be published in 2025, includes questions on suicidality and gambling.
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Last updated: 25 July 2024
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