Report
Gambling Survey for Great Britain - Annual report (2024): Official statistics
Gambling Survey for Great Britain - Annual report (2024): Official statistics
Consequences from gambling
This section cross refers to information that can be found in an accompanying set of data tables, specifically tables D.11 to D.21.
The Gambling Commission measures a broader range of adverse consequences from gambling. These aim to add a greater level of insight into the adverse consequences of gambling that are experienced over and above PGSI. These questions, asked of those who had gambled in the past 12 months, were split into 2 types:
Those categorised as severe adverse consequences, where any experience of them is highly likely to be harmful. This includes relationship breakdown, losing something of significant financial value, violence or abuse and crime. For these questions participants were directed to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to having experienced an adverse consequence.
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 circumstances. This includes spending less on everyday items, increased use of credit or savings to gamble, experience of conflict within relationships, feeling isolated, lying about the extent of gambling and poor work performance or work absences. For these questions participants were directed to answer ‘never’, ‘a little’ or ‘a lot’ to having experienced an adverse consequence.
Severe adverse consequences from own gambling
Similar to year 1, the most reported severe consequence experienced among those who had gambled in the past 12 months due to one’s own gambling was relationship breakdown (1.6 percent).
Male participants who had gambled in the past 12 months (3.5 percent) were more likely to experience at least one severe consequence due to their own gambling than female participants who had gambled in the past 12 months (1.7 percent).
Younger adults who had gambled in the past 12 months were more likely to report experiencing at least one severe consequence due to one’s own gambling than older adults who had gambled in the past 12 months (5.3 percent for those aged 18 to 34 and 0.8 percent for those aged 55 and over).
Suicide ideation or attempts
Participants were asked if they had thought about taking their own life or had attempted to do so in the past 12 months. Those who answered yes were then asked if this was related to their gambling.
12.2 percent of participants reported they had thought about or attempted taking their own life. Of those 12.2 percent, 5.2 percent reported that this was related to their gambling either a little or a lot.
It is worth noting, in an area which is very difficult to research, that the 12.2 percent of adults who had thought about or attempted taking their own life in the past 12 months represents an estimate higher than that reported in the most recent Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) in 2023 to 2024 (opens in new tab) (6.7 percent). This APMS data was based on questions asked face-to-face by an interviewer. APMS 2023 to 2024 also published results based on questions asked of participants within the self-completion section of the interview. This estimated that 25.5 percent had thought about suicide in the past 12 months and 7.7 percent had attempted suicide in the past 12 months. The APMS results indicate the potential impact of mode effects in survey research, which in line with the Sturgis (2025) report (opens in new tab) findings, reflects the general literature in this area. Because there is uncertainty as to which estimate is closer to the truth, data on gambling-related suicidality within GSGB is presented for those who reported past year thoughts about taking their own life or attempts only. Population prevalence estimates are not presented.
Other potential adverse consequences from own gambling
Among those who gambled in the past 12 months, the most reported potential adverse consequences due to one’s own gambling were:
- reducing spending on everyday items (6.7 percent reported this happening at least occasionally)
- lying to family (6.0 percent reported this happening at least occasionally)
- using savings or borrowing money (5.7 percent reported this happening at least occasionally).
Help seeking for own gambling
3.4 percent of those who gambled in the past 12 months had sought support because of their own gambling. The proportion of participants who had sought support from each type of service (for example mental health services, food banks and/or welfare organisations, relationship counselling and gambling support services) was similar, ranging from 1.2 percent for gambling support services to 1.7 percent for mental health services and food banks or welfare organisations.
Consequences from someone else’s gambling
The GSGB includes questions about the impact of someone else’s gambling, an area that has previously had limited research. These questions covered the same set of severe and potential adverse consequences due to one’s own gambling outlined previously. Questions were only asked of those who reported someone close to them gambled.
Almost half (47.9 percent) of all participants reported that someone close to them gambled, even if occasionally.
Severe adverse consequences from someone else's gambling
Of those who reported someone close to them gambled, 5.2 percent had experienced one or more severe consequences from someone else’s gambling.
Relationship breakdown was (3.9 percent) the most reported severe consequence from someone else’s gambling.
Other potential adverse consequences from someone else's gambling
The most reported potential adverse consequences of someone else’s gambling were:
- experiencing health problems, including stress and anxiety (11.4 reported this happening at least occasionally)
- experiencing embarrassment, guilt or shame (10.3 reported this happening at least occasionally)
- experience of conflict or arguments (9.0 percent reported this happening at least occasionally).
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 as a result, either online, in person, or by telephone.
Of those who reported that someone close to them gambled, 3.3 percent had sought some form of support. The proportion of participants who had sought support from each type of service was similar, ranging from 1.4 percent for gambling support services to 1.6 for mental health services and food banks or welfare organisations.
Previous sectionGSGB Annual report 2024 - Problem Gambling Severity Index Next section
GSGB Annual report 2024 Appendix A - Online questionnaire
Last updated: 2 October 2025
Show updates to this content
No changes to show.