UK Gambling Participation Hits Record Low as Digital Platforms Continue To Grow
Gambling participation across Great Britain has fallen to its lowest level since data collection began in 2023, with just 46% of adults engaging in any form of gambling, according to the latest official statistics from the UK Gambling Commission.
Online Gambling on the Rise
The newly released Year 2, Wave 4 report from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain represents a significant three percentage point decline from the previous wave's 49% participation rate, marking the sharpest drop recorded since the commission began its current data collection methodology.
While overall participation has declined, the data reveals a continuing shift towards digital platforms, with online gambling excluding lottery games rising from 16% to 17%. It is also worth noting that this growth may not capture the full picture, as some players are increasingly turning to non GamStop casinos and platforms that operate outside UK regulatory oversight, potentially underrepresenting actual online gambling activity in official statistics.
The comprehensive survey, conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) between September 2024 and January 2025, gathered responses from 5,191 adults aged 18 and over, providing the most current snapshot of British gambling behaviour.
The findings coincide with separate operator data showing online gross gambling yield increased by 7% year-on-year to £1.45 billion in the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the paradox between declining participation rates and growing digital revenues.
Lottery Decline Drives Overall Drop
The most significant contributor to the overall participation decline was a reduction in lottery activity, which fell from 37% to 34% between survey waves. Still, National Lottery draws remain the most popular gambling activity, with 15% of adults purchasing tickets in person and 23% buying online.
When lottery-only players, who comprise 19% of all gamblers, are excluded from the statistics, overall gambling participation remains stable at 28%, suggesting the decline is concentrated among casual lottery participants rather than regular gamblers.
In-person gambling participation remained steady at 18% when lottery players are excluded, whilst online gambling continues its upward trajectory. The most popular non-lottery gambling activities were scratchcards at 12%, betting at 10%, and online instant win games at 7%.
Digital Gambling Drives Revenue Growth
Despite lower overall participation, the digital gambling sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth throughout 2024 and so far this year. Online slots lead the expansion, with gross gambling yield rising 11% to £689 million and the number of spins increasing 6% to 23.4 billion in the data. The average monthly active accounts for online slots reached a record high of 4.5 million, up 6% year-on-year.
Real event betting also showed strength, with gross gambling yield rising 5% to £596 million, though this was accompanied by a 1% decline in the number of bets placed. In contrast, retail betting at high street premises continues its downward trajectory, with gross gambling yield falling 3% to £554 million and total bets dropping 5%.
Demographic Patterns Remain Consistent
The latest data continues to confirm previously established demographic patterns in British gambling behaviour. Men continue to participate in gambling activities significantly more than women across all formats, with the gap most pronounced in online gambling, where 23% of males participate compared to 11% of females. The largest gender disparity appears in betting, where 17% of men participate, 14% of them online, compared to just 4% of women.
Age demographics reveal that whilst overall gambling participation typically increases through middle age, online gambling shows different patterns. Young men aged 18-24 demonstrate the highest online gambling participation at 33%, with rates declining gradually with age. Female participation in online gambling follows more traditional patterns, peaking in the 35-54 age group.
Enhanced Research Framework
Alongside the participation data, the Gambling Commission announced an expanded Consumer Voice research framework, contracting four specialist suppliers for enhanced data collection capabilities.
The Consumer Voice programme engaged over 10,000 gambling consumers in 2024, addressing issues including financial risk checks and gambling behaviour during the cost-of-living crisis. The programme now includes Yonder Consulting, the Behavioural Insights Team, Humankind Research, and Savanta, each contracted through 2027 with potential extensions until 2029.
This latest data represents the most current official assessment of British gambling behaviour, providing crucial insights for policymakers, operators, and researchers as the industry continues its digital transformation whilst overall participation reaches historic lows.
