Report
Understanding the impact of increased cost of living on gambling behaviour - Final report
Gambling Commission's research report with Yonder into the behaviours and motivations of gamblers during the current period of high cost of living in Great Britain.
Contents
- Introduction
- Methodology
- How to read this report
- Summary of findings
- Personal finances and cost of living
- Financial comfort and concerns around cost of living
- Relationship with gambling
- Impact of cost of living on gambling behaviours
- Gambling has stayed the same
- Gambling because it’s fun but will make cutbacks if needed
- Gambling is an inherent part of life
- Change in gambling behaviour
- The number of occasions on which you have spent money on these gambling activities
- The amount of money spent on these gambling activities
- The amount of time spent gambling on these activities
- Typical stakes
- Motivations for gambling
- Conclusions
- Appendix A - Gambling activities
- Appendix B - Reading longitudinal tables
- Appendix C - Motivations for gambling – subgroup analysis by statement
Conclusions
Overall, both qualitative and quantitative findings suggest that gamblers have felt the need to make degrees of financial adjustments in response to the rise in cost of living. Responses range between a heightened awareness of spending but with little to no changes, to actively making cuts to essential and non-essential spending. However, the resulting impact of increased cost of living is felt across a wide range of sub-groups. Broadly speaking, these same sub-groups have been consistent in their reporting of impact throughout tracking.
Has the rise in cost of living impacted consumers’ gambling behaviour in different ways, depending on their personal circumstances and the way in which gambling fits into their lives?
Qualitatively, there is evidence to suggest that the rise in cost of living has impacted consumer gambling behaviour, if their finances were already unstable and they had a strong reliance upon gambling. Those consumers which had stable incomes and for whom gambling was an occasional past time have not been impacted by the rises in cost of living. Those who prioritise gambling more within their lives may have found themselves gambling more as a means of escape and as a source of pleasure. However, it is not possible to directly connect this increase to the rises in cost of living due to the many other factors which may have led to them relying more upon gambling.
Has the rise in cost of living had a mediating effect on gambling behaviour?
Initial quantitative evidence showed that the rise in cost of living has had little to no influence on most gamblers’ gambling behaviours, with most behaviours staying the same as they were 12 months ago when asked in each wave of tracking. However, a minority of gamblers reported either decreasing or increasing their gambling behaviours. Those who were more likely to have increased their behaviours, the smallest proportion of gamblers, were generally of working age, with a higher household income, and reported to have a longstanding mental health condition. This suggests that while those who are more likely to have increased their gambling behaviours over time might be in a financial position to do so, they may also have a heightened vulnerability to the potential impacts of gambling however further investigation is needed to reliably confirm whether this is the case.
Has the rise in cost of living negatively impacted vulnerabilities for some consumers?
While there was low agreement with the surveyed statements about motivations for gambling, a slim minority of gamblers agreed that they had used gambling to either supplement their income on a regular basis, to help pay household bills, or to help offset loans and/or credit card debt. While a few demographic sub-groups were more likely to agree with these motivations for gambling than others, online gamblers and those with Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores of 8 and above were the most likely to agree. As established in previous reporting, these two groups were also most likely to point to increased cost of living for their changes in behaviours.
The Gambling Commission will further explore the data collected from this study for future releases.
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Cost of living on gambling behaviour 2024: Appendix A - Gambling activities
Last updated: 27 February 2024
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