Comprehensive 2025 Data Reveals Slight Drop in Severe PGSI Scores as Demographics and Motivations Shift
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published the third edition of the landmark Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). The extensive study, which covers the entirety of the 2025 calendar year, shows that while headline participation rates remain remarkably consistent, the rate of severe problem gambling has experienced a slight year-on-year decline.
According to the new dataset, the percentage of respondents scoring eight or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), the threshold indicating severe problem gambling, fell from 2.7% in last year’s report to 2.4%. The regulator has characterized this trend as stable over the medium term, pointing to the inaugural 2024 survey’s baseline of 2.5% as evidence of a steady, consistent picture of Great Britain’s wagering landscape.
Headline Trends: Participation and Demographic Shifts
The overall volume of adults engaging in gambling activities across Great Britain has shown minimal movement. However, Helen Bryce, Head of Statistics at the UKGC, highlighted that analyzing the three-year trend data exposes critical micro-developments. Notably, the regulator observed a distinct increase in gambling participation among men aged 55 and older over the three-year period.
GSGB Multi-Year Headline Metrics (2024–2026 Publications)
| Indicator / Metric | 2024 Publication | 2025 Publication | 2026 Publication (Current) |
| Severe PGSI Rate (Score 8+) | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| 4-Week General Participation | — | 48% | 47% |
| Active Participation (Excl. Lottery) | — | — | 27% |
| Primary Demographic Growth Group | Baseline established | Digital onboarding shifts | Males aged 55 and over |
The Psychology of Play: Why Do Britons Gamble?
For the first time, this year’s headline findings include detailed insights into the behavioral psychology and motivations driving British adults to place wagers.
The data paints a complex picture of player sentiment:
- Perception: The vast majority of active gamblers (78%) hold either a positive or neutral view toward the activity.
- Entertainment Value: For 69% of players, “fun” is a primary motivator, while 53% associate their play with general “excitement”.
- The “Big Win” Dream: A dominant 84% of respondents gamble for the “chance of winning big money”.
- Income Generation: Interestingly, only 57% of participants cite “making money” as a distinct reason for gambling, revealing a clear psychological divide between the fantasy of a massive jackpot and the expectation of steady, incremental returns.
Quantifying the Harm: The Impact on ‘Affected Others’
Addressing the wider social impact of gambling harm remains a high priority for public health officials and regulators alike. The latest GSGB addresses the phenomenon of “affected others”, individuals whose lives are directly disrupted by a partner, family member, or friend’s betting habits.
The survey revealed that 43.2% of respondents live or associate closely with someone who gambles. Within that subset, 3.3% have actively sought out external support channels to cope with the resulting stress or financial pressure. Among active players who have gambled in the past 12 months, just under 6% admitted to lying to their families about their habits at least occasionally. When evaluating the most destructive consequences of someone else’s gambling, relationship breakdown was cited as the most common severe outcome, affecting 3.3% of those impacted.
Methodology Matters: Why GSGB Metrics Differ from the NHS
The Gambling Commission notes that the figures compiled in the GSGB should not be compared directly with legacy studies, such as the NHS Health Survey, which historically pegged Great Britain’s problem gambling rate at a much lower 0.7%.
The difference lies entirely in the modern collection process:
The Push-to-Web Model: Conducted by the National Centre for Social Research alongside the University of Glasgow, the GSGB gathered data from 20,775 British adults between January 2025 and January 2026. The survey utilized a “push-to-web” approach, recruiting willing participants through offline channels before directing them to online portals. This methodology yields higher, more accurate engagement from tech-literate and active demographics compared to traditional, face-to-face health interviews.
Tim Miller, the outgoing Executive Director for Research and Policy at the UKGC, emphasized the value of this consistent, three-year data foundation:
“Three years of GSGB provides a richer, more timely picture of the trend in gambling in Great Britain than has previously been available. It helps us understand not only who gambles and the products they use, but also why people gamble, the range of experiences they have, and the consequences gambling can have in people’s lives.
“This evidence is a vital part of a wider evidence base that informs policy, regulation and wider public discussion. We encourage researchers, policymakers, industry and the wider public to make use of these findings alongside the interactive dashboard and supplementary reports.”
