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Report

Illegal online gambling - Phase 1: Exploring consumer pathways into using illegal gambling websites

The Gambling Commission's report on the first phase of the Consumer Voice illegal gambling project.

Published
18 September 2025

Last updated
18 September 2025 - Changes

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Contents

Appendix B – Quantitative survey questions

Survey name: Unlicensed gambling incidence questionnaire
Survey date: 17th April
Methodology: ONLINE
Survey length: 13 questions and Demogs. 10-minute survey.

Sample: 1,000 online gamblers (activity in the last 4 weeks) – that is, excluding only in-person gamblers, National Lottery, scratchcards and private betting (that is, any combination of only those activities).

Demographics

S1. Gender

(ASK ALL)

How do you identify? (SINGLE CODE)

  1. Man
  2. Woman
  3. Non-binary
  4. Prefer to use own term (Specify)
  5. Prefer not to say

S2. Age

(ASK ALL)

Please enter your age below.

(WRITE-IN)

(CLOSE IF LESS THAN 18 YEARS])

S3. Ethnicity

(ASK ALL) 
 

Which one of these groups best describes your ethnic group or background?

(SINGLE CODE)

(WHITE)

  1. English/ Welsh/ Scottish/ Northern Irish/ British
  2. Irish 
  3. Traveller or Irish Traveller
  4. Any other white background 

    5. (MIXED/ MULTIPLE ETHNIC GROUPS) 

  5. White and Black Caribbean
  6. White and Black African
  7. White and Asian
  8. Any other mixed / multiple ethnic background 

    9. (ASIAN AND BRITISH ASIAN) 

  9. Indian 
  10. Pakistani
  11. Bangladeshi
  12. Chinese
  13. Any other Asian background 

    14. (BLACK AND BLACK BRITISH)

  14. Caribbean 
  15. African
  16. other Black/ African/ Caribbean background
  1. Prefer not to say 

S4. Socio-economic group

(ASK ALL) 
(SINGLE CODE)

Which one of these best describes the chief income earner in your household? 

The Chief Income Earner is the person with the largest income, whether from employment, pensions, state benefits, investments or any other source. If two or more related people in the household have equal income, please think of this question with the oldest in mind. 

If you / they are retired and living on a private pension, please choose your description based on what you / they did before you/ they retired. 

If you / they have been unemployed for six months or less, please choose your description based on your / their most recent main job. 

Dates and amounts
Code Description Socio-economic group (SEG)
1 High managerial, administrative or professional
(such as, doctor, lawyer, company director (more than 50 people), judge, surgeon, school headmaster, and so on).		 A
2 Intermediate managerial, administrative or professional
(such as, school teacher, office manager, junior doctor, bank manager, police inspector, accountant, and so on).		 B
3 Supervisor, clerical, junior managerial, administrative or professional
such as, policeman, nurse, secretary, clerk, self-employed (5 or more people) and so on		 C1
4 Skilled manual worker, 
such as, mechanic, paramedic, cook, fitter, plumber, electrician, lorry driver, train driver, hairdresser, beautician and so on		 C2
5 Semi-skilled or unskilled manual worker
such as, baggage handler, restaurant server, factory worker, receptionist, labourer, gardener and so on.		 C2
6 Full-time responsibility for home and/or family  E
7 Unemployed E
8 Student C1
9 Retired and on state pension ONLY
(If retired but not only on state pension, please indicate the occupation just before retirement)  		E
10 Don't know X

S5. Socio-grader

(ASK ALL) 
(SINGLE CODE)

Please input the first 3 or 4 letters of the occupation of your household's Chief Income Earner below and click 'search'. 

(INPUT BOX)

Section 1: Current gambling habits

(ASK ALL)

For the next series of questions, we’d like you to think about gambling activities; by gambling we mean both spending money on games of chance where you can win money (i.e. betting) and/or free-to-play games where you do not have to pay to gamble.  

A1. Gambling activities

When, if ever, have you spent money on the following activities in the last 12 months?

ROWS, RANDOMISE

  1. Online fruit, slot or virtual gaming
  2. Online bingo
  3. Online betting on horse or dog races, including virtual races
  4. Online betting on football
  5. Online betting on other sports, including virtual sports and e-sports [GROUP CODE C, D AND E; ALWAYS SHOW CODE E BELOW CODE C AND D]
  6. Online betting on events (such as, political, entertainment, topical, current affairs, novelty)
  7. Online roulette, card/dice games, Poker, or non-lottery instant win games
  8. Another form of online gambling activity [ANCHOR]

(COLUMNS, SINGLE CODE)

  1. In the last 7 days
  2. In the last 4 weeks
  3. In the last 12 months
  4. More than 12 months ago
  5. Have never spent money on this

(THANK AND CLOSE IF CODE 4 TO 5 ON ALL OPTIONS)

A2. PGSI

(ASK ALL)
And thinking about the last 12 months…

ROWS, DO NOT RANDOMISE

  1. Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
  2. Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?
  3. When you gambled, did you go back another day to try to win back the money you lost?
  4. Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
  5. Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
  6. Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
  7. Have people criticized your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem, regardless of whether or not you thought it was true?
  8. Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
  9. Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

COLUMNS, SINGLE CODE

  1. Almost always
  2. Most of the time
  3. Sometimes
  4. Never

Section 2: Motivations and behaviours

(ASK ALL)

B1. Motivations and behaviours

In the last 12 months, I have…?

ROWS, RANDOMISE

  1. Gambled using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in order to bypass gambling blocking software (such as, Gamban)
  2. Gambled on a foreign website and/or one where I had to change the default currency or language
  3. Gambled on a website I had not previously heard of
  4. Experienced difficulty withdrawing my funds from a gambling website without any clear explanation
  5. Used a gambling website where I did not need to provide ID or age verification upon sign up
  6. Attempted to contact a gambling website (via email, live chat or phone number) but did not receive any acknowledgement or response
  7. Used a gambling website that was glitchy or crashed frequently, such as, I had to restart games or bets because the website kept glitching
  8. Tried to access a gambling website I have used previously, but found that it had been taken down
  9. Gambled on a website that I knew didn’t offer deposit limits/self-exclusion/other safer gambling tools
  10. Gambled on a website that I suspected or knew was unlicensed [ANCHOR]

COLUMNS, (SINGLE CODE)

  1. In the last week
  2. In the last month
  3. In the last 3 months
  4. In the last 12 months
  5. I haven’t done this in the last 12 months
  6. Prefer not to say

(ASK IF SUSPECTS UNLICENSED (B1 = 10))

B1a. Unlicensed websites

You mentioned that you suspect or know that you have gambled on an unlicensed website. Could you tell us which website(s)?

[WRITE IN]

  1. Prefer not to say

B2. Adjacent offers

(ASK ALL) In the last 12 months, have you paid to gamble on a gambling website using…

MULTICODE, RANDOMISE

  1. Own disposable income
  2. Payday loans
  3. Cryptocurrency (such as, bitcoin)
  4. A foreign currency (i.e., not GBP)
  5. Virtual assets such as NFTs
  6. A credit card
  7. Something else (please specify)
  8. None of these [ANCHOR]
  9. Prefer not to say [ANCHOR]

(ASK ALL)

B3a. GamStop usage

Have you ever signed up to GamStop?

(POP-OUT WINDOW: GamStop is a free online tool that, if you sign up, prevents you from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing.)

(SINGLE CODE)

  1. Yes, within the past 12 months
  2. Yes, but more than 12 months ago
  3. No
  4. Don’t know

(ASK ALL WHO HAVE USED GAMSTOP (B3a = 1-2))

B3b. Relationship with GamStop

I have…

(POP-OUT WINDOW: GamStop is a free online tool that, if you sign up, prevents you from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing.)

(SINGLE CODE)

  1. Only gambled using websites that are blocked when I am signed up to GamStop
  2. Gambled on websites that are blocked when I am signed up to GamStop, and on websites that are not blocked when I am signed up to GamStop
  3. Only gambled using websites that are not blocked when I am signed up to GamStop
  4. Not gambled at all on gambling websites when I am signed up to GamStop
  5. I don’t know
  6. Prefer not to say

Section 3: Virtual Prime Networks (VPNs)

(ASK ALL)

C1. VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can protect your online identity by hiding your IP address when using the internet.

Thinking of the last 12 months, and your personal device(s), which of the following statements best applies to you?

(SINGLE CODE)

  1. I have a VPN and it is always on
  2. I have a VPN, and I always use it when visiting gambling websites, specifically
  3. I have a VPN, though I don’t check if I’m using it when visiting gambling websites
  4. I have a VPN, though I never use it when visiting gambling websites
  5. I do not have a VPN
  6. Prefer not to say

Section 4: General perceptions

(ASK ALL)

D1. Outright incidence

Gambling websites that are licensed by the British Gambling Commission typically include the Gambling Commission logo (pictured below) on their website, as well as their account number with the Commission. The Commission will not license a gambling website unless it:

  • is registered with GamStop
  • provides safer gambling tools
  • provides safe deposit and/or withdrawal methods
  • displays the Gambling Commission logo.

Respondents would see the logo contains the word 'Gambling' on top of word 'Commission'. This will redirect you to Public and players home.

(Example of the logo)

When choosing where to gamble, and based on the explanation above, which of the following statements best applies to you?

(SINGLE CODE) FORWARD/REVERSE SCALE

  1. I only ever gamble using websites that I know are unlicensed
  2. I gamble using both licensed and unlicensed websites
  3. I have previously gambled using unlicensed websites but don’t anymore
  4. I have never gambled using unlicensed websites before, but would not rule it out in future
  5. I only ever gamble on websites that I know are licensed
  6. Prefer not to say

(ASK ALL)

D2. Consumer vigilance

When choosing where to gamble, what checks, if any, do you do on the gambling website?

MULTICODE, RANDOMISE

  1. Whether it is based in Great Britain
  2. Whether I recognise the name of the website
  3. I check customer reviews (such as, via Trustpilot)
  4. Whether there are safer gambling tools available
  5. Whether there is a Gambling Commission logo or account number on the website
  6. Whether the website is registered with GamStop
  7. Other (please specify) (ANCHOR)
  8. None of these [EXCLUSIVE, ANCHOR]

D3. Awareness route

(ASK THOSE THAT HAVE USED UNLICENSED WEBSITES (D1 =1-3))

You indicated that you either currently, or have previously, gambled using unlicensed websites.

How did you find out about these websites?

(MULTICODE, RANDOMISE)

  1. Via a search engine
  2. Through paid advertising on social media
  3. Via affiliate websites

    4. [POP-OUT WINDOW: Affiliate websites often collate lists of preferred gambling websites based on best odds, sign-up offers and whether they are regulated. They are often accessed through Google and provide links through which gamblers can access the websites to sign up.]

  4. Via a social media personality or influencer (such as, a Twitch streamer, or an X or Twitter affiliate)
  5. Via word of mouth (such as, friends or family, social media groups)
  6. Via a gambling forum
  7. Something else (please specify) [ANCHOR]
  8. Don’t know [ANCHOR]

(ASK ALL WHO SAY THEY MAY USE UNLICENSED IN FUTURE (D1 = 2-4)) 

D4. Push factors

What might be a factor in you using, or increasing your use of, an unlicensed gambling website in the future?

MULTICODE, RANDOMISE

  1. Getting the best odds
  2. Stricter rules for gambling companies which require them to conduct background checks about me (such as, financial risk checks) [ANCHOR ABOVE CODE 8]

    3. [POP-OUT WINDOW: Financial risk checks would potentially require gambling websites to perform frictionless checks on customers who spend over a certain threshold on gambling to find out whether they could afford their losses, via data such as credit history and income level.]

  3. Finding websites that are not on GamStop

    4. [POP-OUT WINDOW: GamStop is a free online tool that, if you sign up, prevents you from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing.]

  4. Getting the best sign-up or bonus offers
  5. Ease or speed of withdrawal
  6. Playing games or betting on activities that are not offered by licensed gambling websites
  7. Changes to safer gambling tools that make them more limiting

    8. [POP-OUT WINDOW: Safer Gambling tools are tools available to support gamblers to help manage the amount they gamble or the way in which they gamble. Options include, but are not limited to: deposit or loss limits, self-exclusion, reality checks, gambling blocking software, and time outs.]

    Stricter rules for gambling companies which require me to provide information to them (e.g. Bank Statements) (ANCHOR BELOW CODE 2)

    (POP-OUT WINDOW: In the event that a financial risk check cannot be completed by a gambling website with information available from other sources, they may request that information from the customer)

  8. Other (please specify) [ANCHOR]
  9. None of the above [EXCLUSIVE, ANCHOR]

(ASK ALL)

X1. Close

Thank you for answering those questions. If these questions have raised any topics of concern, you can contact:

Samaritans on 116 123.

GamCare on 0808 8020 133

The questions you have just answered were on behalf of our client, the Gambling Commission. We are also looking to conduct some follow-up interviews to explore a range of pathways and experiences, as well as gauging knowledge and understanding of unlicensed gambling. This would involve taking part in a 1-hour online interview in either May or July 2024, where we would look to explore your perceptions and experience of gambling further. There may also be a ‘homework’ task that we would ask you to complete before the interview which would take between 15 to 30 minutes of your time.

Please note, your details will only be passed on if you agree and only for the purposes of this study. All details will be stored and transferred securely and will be deleted once the study is over and note your details will NOT be passed on to the Gambling Commission.

If you agree to take part and are selected to do the 60 minute online interview you would be provided with a voucher for your time and as a thank you for taking part of £50 (for the interview only) or of £65 (for the interview + completion of the homework).

You will need to provide your contact details to the researchers who will then send you the voucher.

The client would also like to see your answers to these question, but they will not be directly attributable to you.

If you agree to take part, we (Yonder Consulting) will collect your name, email address and phone number. We would then get in touch with you to further assess your eligibility and provide further details.

Would you be interested in taking part?

Yes
No THANK AND CLOSE

IF YES (X1 = 1)

X2. Details

Do you give permission to collect your name, email address, phone number and responses to this survey to contact you regarding this additional research, should you be eligible?

Yes
No
CLOSE

IF YES (X2 = 1)

X3. Give details

If you are no longer interested in taking part in this further research, please close your browser without sharing your details.

If you are interested, please provide your:

  • name
  • email address
  • mobile phone number.
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Appendix A – Quantitative quotas Next section
Appendix C – Depth interview participant profiles
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