Shankul Bhandare
Official figures on problem gambling rates in Britain, previously estimated as low as 0.3%, can obscure the true extent of gambling-related harm by including non-bettors, according to a report from the industry regulator. Various surveys suggest that problem gambling rates in Britain range from 0.3% to 2.5%. However, a new report shows that when non-gamblers are excluded, this figure rises sharply, particularly among online casino gamblers.
The National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow found that 2.5% of British adults might have faced problem gambling, significantly higher than previously thought. This estimated rate increases to 4.1% among those who have gambled in the past year. The Gambling Commission cautions that the latest figures, using different methodologies, might either overstate current gambling harms or highlight past underestimations.
The survey revealed that 24.5% of respondents who had played online slots in the past year showed signs of problem gambling, nearly six times higher than the rate for all gamblers within the same period. The industry has leveraged population-wide figures to oppose stricter gambling regulations, but when non-gamblers are excluded and riskier forms of gambling are examined, problem gambling rates are significantly higher.
Additionally, an international study published in The Lancet found that globally, about one in six people (15.8%) who play online casino games or slots experience gambling disorders.
An Australian government report as early as 2010 highlighted the risks of using population-wide statistics to assess the harms caused by gambling, warning that it could be misleading for policy-making, as many people do not gamble or participate in high-risk gambling activities.
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain, released by the Gambling Commission, echoed this sentiment, stating: “Focusing on population prevalence rates masks the strengths of associations between gambling and [problem gambling severity index] scores because they include people who do not gamble or gamble very infrequently.”
Will Prochaska, of the Coalition Against Gambling Ads, called for a legislative overhaul to ensure gambling is “permitted but not promoted.” He criticized the last government’s review of gambling legislation, suggesting it was based on figures that likely understated the extent of gambling harms. Prochaska emphasized the need for a new gambling act prioritizing public protection.
Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat peer and chair of the Peers for Gambling Reform group, described the new survey figures as a “wake-up call” necessitating urgent action. He urged ministers to implement the previous government’s proposal for a £100m annual levy on gambling firms to fund research, prevention, and treatment aimed at reducing gambling-related harms.
He said: “We also need to ban direct marketing and any form of sponsorship in sport. Gambling should be treated as a public health issue in the same way as drugs, alcohol and tobacco.”
Premier League clubs faced criticism last week for their perceived greed, as it was revealed that 11 clubs will feature front-of-shirt gambling sponsors for the upcoming season. A ban on such sponsorships will take effect in the 2026-27 season.
A spokesperson for the Betting & Gaming Council expressed concern that the recent findings from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain might overstate gambling harms. The spokesperson stated, “Our members are committed to raising standards and we welcome any robust study that accurately gauges betting and gaming participation and problem gambling prevalence.”
The Gambling Commission noted that a new methodology was used for the survey, adding, “This methodology is new, and it is too early to use it in isolation to make policy or regulatory changes.”
