Higher taxes and tighter regulations are pushing more European gamblers toward unlicensed sites, according to a new report from the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
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UK Gambling Hits New Low, While Online Gaming Still Rises
Gambling in the UK has dropped to a record low, but online participation continues to climb, according to the latest UK Gambling Commission survey.
The UK’s gambling participation rate has dropped to its lowest level since tracking began in 2023, according to new data from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The findings come from the Year 2, Wave 4 Gambling Survey for Great Britain, released on May 23, which surveyed 5,191 adults between September 2024 and January 2025.
The report found that 46% of UK adults had gambled in the previous four weeks—a noticeable decline from 49% in the previous survey wave. However, the drop in total gambling activity masks a key trend: online gambling continues to rise.
While lottery participation fell from 37% to 34%, the percentage of people gambling online (excluding lottery games) increased from 16% to 17%. In-person gambling remained unchanged at 18%. Overall, the rate of gambling, excluding the lottery, held steady at 28%, bolstered primarily by the growth of digital platforms.
The data continues to show that men are more active gamblers than women across all formats. In online gambling, 23% of men reported participation, compared to 11% of women. The biggest gender gap was seen in betting: 17% of men bet regularly, 14% of them online, versus just 4% of women.
Age also played a role. Online gambling was most prevalent among young men aged 18 to 24, with participation at 33%. Meanwhile, women were more likely to gamble online between the ages of 35 and 54.
The UKGC’s research also explored gamblers’ motivations. 85% said they were motivated by the potential for big winnings. Yet, 73% cited enjoyment, and this was even more pronounced among younger participants. Among those aged 18 to 24, fun (87%) outweighed financial gain (71%) as the top reason for gambling. Excitement (75%) and social interaction (58%) were also prominent motivations in this age group.
Along with the survey results, the UKGC announced an expansion of its research efforts under the Consumer Voice initiative. The program now includes four contracted research partners: Yonder Consulting, the Behavioural Insights Team, Humankind Research, and Savanta. Each will support the Commission’s mission through 2027, with options to extend through 2029.
Laura Carter, the Gambling Commission’s Head of Research, shared:
“This new framework gives us greater agility and reach than ever before. With these four partners, we’re better equipped to commission high-quality research quickly and use a range of approaches to respond to emerging trends or risks as they develop.”
Through the Consumer Voice program, over 10,000 gambling consumers were engaged in 2024 alone. The initiative has examined key issues, including financial risk checks and the impact of gambling amid the cost-of-living crisis.
The UK Gambling Commission has published its fourth and last report of its ongoing series that is looking into the issue of illegal online gambling.
This series of reports,...
