The Gambling Commission has unveiled a pioneering gambling survey for Great Britain, promising to become one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of its kind in the world. This annual survey, designed to establish a new baseline for understanding gambling behaviour across the nation, marks a significant step forward in the regulation and study of gambling.
Key Findings from the First Annual Report
The inaugural report of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, developed by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow, has been published today. The survey, which included responses from 9,804 participants this year, is set to expand to approximately 20,000 respondents by next year, making it a vital tool for policymakers, researchers, and regulators.
This extensive publication offers unprecedented insights into gambling behaviours and attitudes across the country. It sheds light on participation rates, the types of gambling activities engaged in, the motivations behind gambling, and the consequences of these activities on both individuals and their close circles.
Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, emphasized the importance of the survey in enhancing the regulatory body’s understanding of gambling trends.
“One of our aims as a regulator is to ensure we gather the best possible evidence on gambling – and today’s publication is the next significant step forward in our journey on creating a robust source of evidence for gambling in Great Britain,” Miller stated.
He added that the data presented in this report represents a new baseline against which future changes can be measured, making it an invaluable resource for ongoing research.
Methodology and Survey Design
Professor Patrick Sturgis, Professor of Quantitative Social Science at the London School of Economics, highlighted the methodological advancements of the survey.
“The new design of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain will significantly enhance the evidence base on patterns and trends in gambling behaviour,” said Professor Sturgis.
With an anticipated annual sample size of 20,000 interviews conducted across the regions of Great Britain, the survey aims to provide fine-grained and timely data on a broad range of gambling indicators.
The survey employs a push-to-web mixed mode design and random probability sampling from the Postcode Address File, applying state-of-the-art methodology to ensure the highest standards of data collection. This approach is expected to deliver accurate and reliable insights that can inform both policy and public discourse.
Participation and Gambling Experiences
The report reveals that 48 percent of adults aged 18 and over participated in some form of gambling within the past four weeks. However, when lottery-only participants were excluded, this figure dropped to 27 percent. Male participants (52 percent) were found to be more likely than female participants (44 percent) to have engaged in gambling during this period.
When examining experiences of gambling, 41 percent of adults who gambled in the past 12 months rated their last gambling experience positively, while 21 percent gave it a negative score and 37 percent remained neutral. The most common motivations for gambling were the chance of winning big money (86 percent), the fun associated with gambling (70 percent), and the excitement it brings (55 percent).
Consequences of Gambling
The report also sheds light on the potential harms associated with gambling.
Male participants and those aged 18 to 34 were more likely to have higher Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores, indicating a greater risk of problem gambling.
Notably, the proportion of participants with a PGSI score of 8 or more was over nine times higher among those who had bet on non-sports events in person compared to all gamblers. Similarly, those who engaged in online slot gambling had a PGSI score of 8 or more that was six times higher than the general gambling population.
Future Implications
As the Gambling Survey for Great Britain continues to grow, it is expected to provide increasingly detailed and accurate data on gambling behaviour, enabling better-informed decisions by both policymakers and regulators. The Gambling Commission has also published guidance on how to correctly interpret and use the data, stressing that estimates from this new survey are not directly comparable with those from previous surveys due to methodological differences.
The survey represents a critical tool in the ongoing effort to understand and mitigate the risks associated with gambling in Great Britain, providing a robust foundation for future research and regulation.