48% of adults in Britain gamble regularly: Survey reveals

Anchal Verma December 9, 2024

SiGMA news

Nearly half of adults in Great Britain 48 percent participated in gambling activities over the past four weeks, according to the latest (GSGB). Published by the Gambling Commission and based on data collected from 4,657 adults between April and July 2024, the survey provides valuable insights into the nation’s gambling habits and preferences.

Steady gambling participation rates

The survey found that overall gambling participation has remained steady compared to 2023 and earlier in 2024. A significant 20 percent of respondents reported exclusively engaging in lottery draws, such as the national lottery and charity lotteries. When excluding these lottery-only participants, gambling participation dropped to 28 percent.

Who gambles the most?

The survey revealed distinct demographic patterns. Men aged 45 to 64 had the highest overall gambling participation, but when lottery-only players were excluded, males aged 25 to 34 emerged as the most active group. This highlights a generational shift in gambling preferences, with younger men showing higher engagement in non-lottery activities.

Online vs. in-person gambling

Online gambling remains a dominant force, with 37 percent of respondents gambling online in the past four weeks. However, this figure drops to 17 percent when excluding those who only played online lotteries. Meanwhile, in-person gambling was reported by 29 percent of participants but fell to 18 percent when lottery-only players were excluded. These statistics underscore the growing appeal of digital platforms for gambling activities.

Popular gambling activities

Lotteries continue to reign supreme, with 31 percent of respondents taking part in National Lottery draws and 16 percent in charity lotteries. Other popular activities included scratchcards (12 percent), betting (12 percent), and online instant win games (7 percent). Interestingly, betting participation increased by over three percentage points compared to the previous survey, suggesting a resurgence in this traditional gambling activity.

It’s worth noting that changes to the survey’s methodology mean direct historical comparisons with earlier reports are not straightforward. However, these latest insights offer a valuable snapshot of the nation’s gambling landscape.