Gambling statistics

Explore the latest data to understand the scale of gambling in the UK and its impact on individuals and communities.

Further reading: Signs of addiction Addiction assessment Treatment What to expect in rehab Aftercare

Gambling remains a prevalent activity in the UK, with millions of people engaging in various forms of betting, from sports wagering and casino games to online gambling. While many gamble recreationally, rising accessibility and technological advancements have contributed to an increase in problem gambling, raising concerns about its impact on mental health, financial stability, and wider society.

Here, we examine key statistics on gambling participation, problem gambling rates, treatment trends, the links between gambling and mental health, gambling among young people, and related harms.

Prevalence of gambling and problem gambling

50% of adults in England engage in some form of gambling over a 12 month period. [1]
Approximately 0.3% of adults in England were identified as problem gamblers. [1]
2.8% of adults in England are classified as engaging in at-risk or problem gambling behaviours. [1]
20% of the UK population is directly or indirectly harmed by gambling. [2]

Trends in gambling behaviour

10% of adults participated in online gambling (excluding lotteries), with men (14%) more likely than women (5%) to gamble online. [1]
Among adults who gambled in the past year, 47% did so more than once a month, including 22% who gambled weekly and 12% who gambled two or more times a week. [1]

Impact on health and mental health

The NHS has reported a doubling in the number of gambling addicts requiring treatment over the past year, with referrals to specialist clinics reaching 1,914 in the last six months, up from 836 in the same period in 2023. [3]
Public Health England estimates that there are 400 gambling-related suicides each year in England alone. [4]
Approximately 96% of individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder have at least one additional lifetime psychiatric disorder, with more than 60% having three or more co-occurring psychiatric disorders. [5]
Individuals with gambling disorder are significantly more likely to have substance use disorders, with studies indicating that the likelihood of developing a gambling addiction increases 23-fold for people affected by alcohol use disorders. [6]
Those with heavy gambling are associated with a 35% increase in mortality rate. [7]

Demographics

Men (55%) were more likely than women (45%) to participate in any gambling activity in 2021. [1]
Gambling participation was highest among those aged 45 to 54 (61%) and lowest among those aged 16 to 34 (39%) in 2021. [1]
The North East of England had the highest gambling participation rate at 59%, while the South West had the lowest at 41% in 2021. [1]
190,000 children in Great Britain suffer problem gambling. [8]
Economic and social impact
Gambling-related harm in England is estimated to cost society approximately £1.27 billion annually, encompassing healthcare, criminal justice, and welfare costs. [9]
Punters' losses, worth £11 billion a year to the gambling industry, are disproportionately skewed towards more economically deprived areas, such as Stoke. [4]
According to Citizens Advice, some 18%—or 3.3 million—of online gamblers in Britain are in debt, owing £10,000 on average. [4]