The Gambling Commission published the third annual report of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) on 16 July 2026. It found that 2.4% of adults scored 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index in 2025, the level that indicates problem gambling, and that the rate has been stable across the survey's three years. The GSGB is the official statistics publication on gambling in Great Britain.
Headline Figures From the 2025 Survey
The survey is run by the National Centre for Social Research with the University of Glasgow and covers around 20,000 adults each year. In 2025, 47% of adults said they had gambled in the past four weeks. Leaving out people who only played lottery draws, the figure was 27%. The Commission describes headline participation as stable.
Asked how they felt about their own gambling, 78% of gamblers gave a positive or neutral answer. The most common reasons for gambling were the chance of winning big money (84%), because it is fun (69%), to make money (57%) and because it is exciting (53%).
Two supplementary reports on gambling-related consequences were published alongside the annual report. On 17 September 2026 the Commission also released the first wave of 2026 participation data, covering January to May.
How the PGSI Measures Harm
The Problem Gambling Severity Index is a screening tool. A score of 8 or more indicates problem gambling: the person will have experienced adverse consequences from gambling and may have lost control of their behaviour. A score of 3 to 7 indicates moderate risk, and 1 to 2 low risk.
An earlier version of this article quoted a problem gambling rate of 0.3% to 0.5%. That figure did not come from the GSGB, and the Commission says GSGB results should not be compared directly with surveys that use different methods. The right comparison is between successive years of the GSGB itself, which now provides three years of consistent data.
Support and Protections in 2026
Treatment funding now comes through the statutory levy, which has been in force since 6 April 2025 and is collected by the Gambling Commission. About half of the money goes to treatment and support services commissioned by NHS England and the Scottish and Welsh governments, with 30% for prevention and 20% for research.
Several Gambling Act review measures also apply to all online play: slot stake limits of £5 per spin for over-25s and £2 for 18 to 24 year olds, public-record checks once net deposits pass £150 in 30 days, and a 10x cap on bonus wagering since 19 January 2026. Their effect is being studied separately, including through NatCen's wider evaluation of the review's measures.
If gambling is causing you problems, GamCare's National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, and GamStop lets you self-exclude from UK-licensed gambling websites and apps.
Updated 23 September 2026: replaced outdated prevalence estimates with the Gambling Commission's 2025 official statistics and corrected the status of the levy and stake limits.
