UK Gambling Participation Holds Steady As Lottery Continues To Lead

New data from the Gambling Commission offers a detailed look at how people in Great Britain continue to engage with gambling across digital and retail channels. The latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain covers activity from early April through mid-July and shows steady participation levels, with lottery products once again forming the core of consumer play patterns.

Good to Know

• Forty-seven percent of adults gambled at least once during the four-week window studied.
• Lottery draws remained the dominant product, shaping both overall and age-specific participation trends.
• Online play held firm at a 38 percent participation rate for the period.

The GSGB Wave 2 report reflects responses from 4,750 adults aged 18 and above and indicates consistent behaviour across the market. Participation reached 47 percent in the four weeks prior to the survey, only a slight change from the 48 percent figure recorded in both Wave 1 and the same period last year. Roughly one in five respondents took part only in lottery draws, either through National Lottery products or charity lottery schemes.

When lottery-only participants are removed, overall gambling participation rises to 28 percent, which exceeds the 27 percent figure observed in both comparison periods. The difference highlights how strongly lottery influences market-wide participation data.

Age patterns shifted when analysts excluded lottery-only players. Among all respondents, the highest rate came from the 55-64 group at 54 percent, with a fairly even gender mix. Once lottery draws were removed, the 25-44 group became the most active at 36 percent, and 43 percent of that group were male.

After lottery products, UK consumers most commonly gravitated toward sports betting and scratchcards, both at 12 percent participation. Online instant wins followed at 8 percent. Within sports and racing activity, the commission introduced updated reporting categories by separating dog racing and horse racing. Horse racing participation jumped from 4 percent in Wave 1 to 7 percent in Wave 2, a rise the commission linked to major seasonal events such as the Grand National.

Online play remained stable at 38 percent overall. Removing lottery-only respondents brought the rate to 17 percent, consistent with last year. Digital National Lottery draw tickets dominated with a 25 percent participation rate, followed by other online lottery draws at 15 percent. Ten percent of adults placed bets online on sports or racing during the period.

Retail play also remained a noteworthy share of the market. In-person gambling reached 28 percent and dropped to 18 percent once lottery-only players were excluded. National Lottery tickets led again with a 15 percent play rate, followed by scratchcards at 12 percent. Charity lottery draws came in at 6 percent, with retail sports betting at 4 percent and bingo at 3 percent.

Motivations for gambling largely mirrored previous reporting periods. Many respondents selected the chance to win large amounts of money or simply enjoyed the entertainment aspect. The fun element was especially common among the 18-24 segment, marking the clearest stated reason for participation in that younger cohort.

FAQ

How many adults reported recent gambling activity?

Forty-seven percent gambled within the previous four weeks.

How much does lottery affect total participation?

Lottery-only play forms a major portion of activity, and removing it shifts non-lottery participation to 28 percent.

Which age group showed the highest overall participation?

Adults aged 55-64 recorded the highest rate, though the 25-44 group led once lottery-only players were removed.

What were the most popular non-lottery activities?

Sports betting and scratchcards both recorded 12 percent participation.

Did online gambling grow?

It held firm at 38 percent, matching the level seen last year.

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