Report
Illegal gambling - Phase 4: Initial findings from new data on consumer engagement with illegal gambling websites
The initial findings from new data on consumer engagement with illegal gambling websites.
Executive summary
This report presents the first year of data from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) on consumer engagement with illegal gambling websites, covering April 2025 to 2026. The research feeds into the Gambling Commission’s Illegal gambling and crime Evidence Roadmap, supporting the development of a robust evidence base on participation in online illegal gambling in Great Britain.
These findings are derived from a composite Illegal Gambling Index developed through a multi-phased programme of research undertaken by the Commission and Yonder Consulting. The index combines a range of behavioural indicators associated with illegal gambling website use and provides the Commission with a robust and iterative measure for monitoring consumer engagement over time. Further details of how the Illegal Gambling Index was derived can be found in the accompanying technical report.
Findings estimate that the proportion of people using illegal gambling websites among the whole population (including those who do not gamble) is low, with most respondents showing no indication of using an illegal gambling website (94.4%). 0.6% of respondents have engaged with illegal gambling websites within the past 4 weeks and a further 0.4% in the past 12 months (but not in the past 4 weeks). 4.6% of respondents demonstrated limited indications of engagement, meaning that they have displayed some indications of engagement with illegal gambling websites in the past 12 months (or longer ago) but there is insufficient evidence to confidently categorise them as having used an illegal gambling website within the past 4 weeks or in the past 12 months.
Among those who gambled online in the past 12 months1, 2.5% had engaged with illegal gambling websites within the past 4 weeks, and 1.5% had engaged in the past 12 months2. Engagement with illegal gambling websites was higher amongst males than females, and tended to be more prevalent amongst younger adults in the past 12 months, particularly those aged 18 to 24. In contrast, engagement among 25 to 34-year-olds was more evident within the past 4 weeks.
Among illegal gambling website users, the most common behavioural indicators reported within the past 12 months were using a gambling website known to not be registered with Gamstop’ (58.0%) and ‘cancelling a withdrawal before it reached a bank and/or wallet on a gambling website’ (56.5%).
Once larger sample sizes are acquired through future waves of data, it will be possible to undertake more detailed analysis of illegal gambling website users, including exploring associations with a wider range of variables within the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). Upcoming work also includes the development of additional GSGB survey questions to provide the Commission with the capability to track the different persona groups identified in previous phases of the research, within the wider sample of illegal gambling website users. This will help the Commission develop a more complete understanding of participation in online illegal gambling.
References
1 Excluding those who only gambled on National Lottery Products. See the How to read this report section for further details.
2 Findings relating to engagement with illegal gambling websites within the past 4 weeks and past 12 months are mutually exclusive. Those who engaged in an illegal gambling website in the past 4 weeks were not included in the past 12-month category.
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Background - Initial findings from new data on consumer engagement with illegal gambling websites
Last updated: 5 November 2026
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