The UK Gambling Commission has formally responded to a report from the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) concerning its new Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB).
The Commission welcomed the OSR’s assessment, which was initiated at the Commission’s request, and committed to implementing a series of recommendations to enhance the quality, transparency, and usability of its data.
The GSGB, which launched in July 2023, represents a significant methodological shift, moving from quarterly telephone surveys to a larger-scale, push-to-web approach to gather more comprehensive data on gambling behaviors and prevalence of harm.
The OSR’s review acknowledged the Commission’s dedication to improving its statistical evidence base and praised the appointment of Professor Patrick Sturgis to conduct an independent review of the new methodology. However, the OSR also highlighted the need for clearer communication regarding data uncertainties and improved quality assurance processes.
In its official response to the Gambling Survey for Great Britain , the Gambling Commission has outlined a clear action plan to address the OSR’s nine key recommendations.
By October 2025, the Commission plans to publish updated validation reports and provide enhanced guidance for users to better understand the data’s strengths and limitations.
It also intends to develop new interactive tools, such as a PowerBI dashboard, to make the statistics more accessible to a wider range of stakeholders, including academics, policymakers, and the public.
To improve engagement and transparency, the Commission has already established new feedback channels, including a dedicated user group and a direct email for inquiries. It has also committed to creating a publicly available “gambling research roadmap” in the autumn of 2025.
These measures are designed to build trust in the new survey and ensure that the GSGB becomes a robust and highly respected source of evidence for understanding gambling trends and harms in Great Britain.
