The data being released is the latest edition of the UK Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) conducted by the National Centre for Social Research. A nationally representative sample of 4,750 adults aged 18 and over were surveyed during the period 7 April 2025 to 20 July 2025.

Overall participation in any gambling activity (in the past 4 weeks) was 47 percent. This figure is consistent with participation levels we saw for the same period in 2024. 

Approximately one fifth of adults in Great Britain (19 percent) only took part in lottery draws (either National Lottery or other charity lottery draws) in the past 4 weeks. This means when we exclude those who only took part in a lottery draw in the past 4 weeks from the overall gambling participation rate, gambling participation falls to 28 percent. 

The online gambling participation rate (in the past 4 weeks) was 38 percent, which falls to 17 percent when lottery draw only players are removed. This is consistent with figures we saw for the same time last year.

Overall gambling participation is highest among those aged 55 to 64 (54 percent). When broken down by sex, both males and females in this age group show the highest participation rates. 56 percent of males and 52 percent of females aged 55 to 64 reported gambling in the past 4 weeks. 

However, when those who only participated on a lottery draw are excluded, the age profile shifts downward, showing that those aged 25 to 44 have the highest gambling participation rates in the past 4 weeks (36 percent).

This pattern also varies by sex with the player profile being younger amongst males than females. Among males, participation excluding lottery draw only players is highest for those aged 25 to 34 (43 percent), while among females, it peaks for those aged 35 to 44 (33 percent). 

Overall, the most popular gambling activities after lottery draws are betting (12 percent), scratchcards (12 percent), and online instant win games (8 percent).

Betting participation in the past 4 weeks has significantly increased compared to the previous wave, making it the most popular activity after lottery draws, alongside scratchcards.