Statistics and research release
Investigating the profiles of those who gamble more frequently
This report explores the association between engagement in gambling activities, frequency of gambling, and risk.
Find out more about the Gambling Survey for Great Britain
Summary
Also published recently
Alongside the findings from the second year of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), 2 supplementary topical reports are being published.
This report explores the association between engagement in gambling activities, frequency of gambling, and risk. It is an extension of the GSGB Year 1 analysis, published in February 2025, that showed, irrespective of someone’s wider engagement in gambling or their demographic profile, there is a significant association between past year engagement in some activities and the experience of problem gambling.
Key facts
People who gamble weekly but only on lottery draws tend to be older, married, owner-occupiers.
People who gamble weekly on any activity, including lottery draws, are more likely to live in more deprived areas, have fewer qualifications and live in housing association accommodation.
People who gamble weekly on any activity have higher PGSI scores than those who gamble weekly but on lottery draws only. However, people who gamble more frequently, weekly or more often, have higher PGSI scores than those who gamble less frequently.
Weekly participation in fruits and slots in person, in-play betting, but also betting on non-sports events online and other non-National Lottery scratch cards are all associated with higher PGSI scores.
There was a strong association between weekly in-play betting (either online or in-person) and higher PGSI scores, suggesting the rapid rewards and continuous play connected with this activity is associated to higher PGSI scores.
Details
Full details can be found in the Investigating the profiles of those who gamble more frequently topic report.
Publication authors: Tipping, S. and Wardle, H. (University of Glasgow)
Alongside this report we have published GSGB Official Statistics 2024 summarised in this report: GSGB Annual report (2024).
Publication authors: Wardle, H., Ridout, K., Tipping, S., Sadler, K., Maxineanu, I., & Hill, S.
Responsible Statistician: Helen Bryce (Head of Statistics).
We have also published an additional topic report to enhance our understanding of GSGB data: Understanding the adverse consequences of gambling.
Publication author: Ruddock, H. (Gambling Commission)
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Feedback
We are always keen to hear how these statistics are used and would welcome your views on this publication.