Almost half of adults (48%) in Britain have opted in the last four weeks, according to an annual survey conducted by the industry regulator.
Around 2.7% of adults obtained “8+” in the seriousness of the problem game (PGSI) in 2024, compared to 2.5% the previous year, which is “statistically stable” compared to the previous year, according to the game commission.
The main figure of those who played during the last month, which is the same as the previous year, falls to 28% when those who had only bought tickets for a lottery raffle were excluded.
In general, about 42% of adults who bet in the last 12 months described the last time they played positively, compared to 21% that qualified it negatively.
The possibility of winning “Big Money” was the main reason why people bet (85%), followed by finding the game to be fun (72%).
Andrew Rhodes, executive director of the game commission, said: “The game survey for Great Britain is a key component of the evidence base that helps government, industry and other partners to understand the behavior of the game and the possible consequences of the game.
“This year's findings deepen our understanding of the consequences of the game and provide a crucial vision of risk profiles among those who bet more frequently. We encourage operators to use this evidence to consider the risks within their own client bases.
“Data and research, such as GSGB, are essential to help us identify where our regulatory approach should be and inform our continuous work to implement recommendations for the protection of players of the White Paper of the Game Law.
“We have already introduced the financial vulnerability controls of Light Touch in those who spend £ 150 per month, reduced the intensity of all online games forbidding the self -platform and the speed of the game hardening, and the hardening age verification in the facilities.
“We have also prohibited potentially harmful marketing offers that involve consumers who have to carry out two or more types of chance games, such as bets and game slots, and limiting the number of times the bonus funds must return to serpers before a consumer can withdraw the profits.
Will Prochaska, director of the coalition to end the game ads, said: “The game commission launches these statistics as if nothing was bad. But there is something very bad when more than one million people have a game problem and millions are being damaged.
“The families from above and below the country are being destroyed to offer profits for large game corporations. If we take seriously address this crisis, we must begin by prohibiting the advertising of the game.”
A spokeswoman for the Betting Council and Gaming said: “More than 22 million adults in Great Britain enjoy a bet every month and, as the game commission shows today, the vast majority of people do it without problems.
“Our members take the protections of the players incredibly seriously and have voluntarily contributed to £ 170 million to the research, education and treatment programs only in the last four years, in marked contrast to the illegal black market that has almost tripled in size since 2022 and actively points to vulnerable customers.
“The June 2025 NHS APM survey and the 2021 NHS health survey estimated the 0.4% problem game and the differences between this and the rate of the game commission seem to reflect a different methodology instead of an increase in damage.”
