The UKGC has revealed the Wave-2 datasets from the 2024 Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB), as it continues with its usage of a revised survey format and research methodology.
The research has been conducted by NatCen and aims to measure gambling prevalence and provide updated data on gambling habits, attitudes, and associated harms across the adult population in Great Britain.
It’s a move that seeks to offer more accurate and flexible data around gambling engagement in the UK.
The group did underline that neither the Wave-1 nor Wave-2 datasets include statistics from the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) for UK adults. These figures are reported separately in the Commission’s annual Official Statistics on Gambling Participation, which focuses on the impact of gambling on individuals and their close relations.
Wave-2 datasets are based on a nationally representative sample of 4,657 adults aged 18 and over, interviewed by NatCen between April and July 2024.
Aligning with figures from 2023, the latest set of results revealed that 48% of adults participated in gambling activities during the past four weeks.
Among males, 52% gambled in the past four weeks, reducing to 32.4% when lottery-only participation is excluded. For females, the figures stand at 43.6% and 24.7% respectively.
The highest overall gambling participation, including lotteries, was reported in the 45–54 age group at 55.2%. When lottery participation is excluded, the 25–34 age group leads with a rate of 35.8%. Across all age groups, female participation remains lower than male participation.
Online gambling participation was reported at 37.4% overall, dropping to 17.2% when lottery-only participants were excluded. Among males, 42.2% engaged in online gambling, which reduces to 22.0% excluding lottery participants. For females, these rates are 33.0% and 12.7% respectively.
The highest online gambling rates, including lottery players, were observed in the 45–54 age group at 45.5%. Excluding lottery-only participants, the highest rates shift to the 18–24 and 25–34 age groups, both at 23.9%.
The most popular gambling activities in the past four weeks included National Lottery draws (31%) and charity lottery draws (16%). Other common activities included scratchcards (12%), betting (12%), and online instant win games (7%). Compared to Wave-1, betting participation has increased by over three percentage points.
Betting activities were reported by 12.4% of respondents, with participation notably higher among males (18.5%) compared to females (6.5%). Among betting types, sports and racing, either online or via apps, were the most popular, with 10.3% of respondents engaging—15.8% male and 5.1% female. Online casino games had a participation rate of 2.8%, with males accounting for 4.8% and females 0.9%.
The Commission emphasises that the GSGB data is not directly comparable to previous gambling surveys due to changes in methodology. It reminds stakeholders that these datasets represent the official statistics on gambling participation in Great Britain.
This release provides vital insights into gambling behaviours and trends, supporting informed decisions for policy-making and industry practices.
