UK Gambling Commission Reports 1.4M Struggle with Gambling Problems

According to groundbreaking figures released by the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission (UKGC), an estimated 1.4 million adults in Britain, comprising more than 2.5% of the country’s adult population, struggle with a gambling problem.

UKGC Publishes Concerning Findings on People With Gambling Issues

Gambling is deeply ingrained in UK culture, with betting shops being a familiar sight on high streets and sports betting a common activity for many. Researchers discovered that nearly half (48%) of adults aged 18 and over in Great Britain had gambled in the past month. When lottery purchases were excluded, the participation rate dropped to 28%. However, for those who lose control, the consequences of gambling can be severe.

The regulator had previously advised against applying survey percentages to the broader population. However, after a review by a statistics expert, the commission updated its approach, making the new survey its standard measure. In contrast, an earlier polling method used by the commission had estimated the figure at just 0.4%.

UK Gambling Industry Responds

The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has continued to reference the previous 0.4% estimate and has raised concerns about the regulator’s new figure. According to the BCG, the disparity between the 0.4% and 2.5% figures is due to differing methodologies used in the surveys.

A spokesperson for the BGC stated that more than 22 million adults in Britain place bets each month, and as the Gambling Commission’s report shows, the vast majority do so safely. The spokesperson added that BGC members take player protection extremely seriously and have voluntarily contributed GBP 170 million ($211 million) to research, education, and treatment programs over the past four years to combat problem gambling. This commitment stands in stark contrast to the illegal, growing black market, where 1.5 million people in Britain wagered up to GBP 4.3 billion ($5.4 billion), with these operators actively targeting vulnerable customers.

UK Government Wants Gambling Industry to Pay More

The Gambling Commission’s assessment was published on Thursday, just days after Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested that she plans to raise taxes on the sector in the upcoming autumn budget. During an event at the Labour conference on Monday, she stated that there was a strong case for bookmakers and online casinos to be “paying more.”

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proposed an increase of up to GBP 3 billion ($3.7 billion) in duties paid by gambling companies to help fund the removal of the two-child benefit cap. Brown’s plan aligns with calls from think tanks such as the Social Market Foundation and the Institute for Public Policy Research. Industry sources anticipate a tax hike, though likely smaller than the GBP 3 billion ($3.7 billion) proposed by Brown.