New UKGC Report Highlights Gambling Trends in Great Britain
Published on by Becky M.
London, UK – December 9, 2024
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published its latest quarterly report, Statistics on Gambling Participation – Year 2, Wave 2 (2024). Between April and July 2024, NatCen conducted interviews with a nationally representative sample of 4,657 adults across Great Britain. The findings shed light on gambling behaviours, preferences, and trends over the four-month period.
Key Findings:
- Overall Participation: 48% of respondents reported gambling in the last four weeks, consistent with 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.
- Lottery Dominance: 20% participated exclusively in lottery draws, including the National Lottery and charity lotteries.
- Online Gambling Trends: 37% engaged in online gambling sites, dropping to 17% when excluding lottery-only participants.
- In-Person Gambling: Participation stood at 29%, reduced to 18% without lottery-only players.
- Popular Activities: Lotteries led participation (31%), followed by scratchcards (12%), betting (12%), and online instant-win games (7%). Betting activity rose significantly, by over three percentage points since the first quarter.
Demographics and Motivations
- Men aged 45-64 are the most significant participants at gambling sites. However, removing lottery-only players shifted the demographic to men aged 25-34.
- Gambling motivation was primarily driven by the chance to win big money and the fun el.
UKGC Insights
The report provides crucial insights for stakeholders across the gambling industry, including regulators, policymakers, operators, and researchers. The report highlights nuanced participation patterns by distinguishing between lottery-only and broader gambling activities.
The next report, covering Wave 3 of 2024, is scheduled for release in February 2025. The UKGC welcomes feedback on these findings to improve future surveys and ensure their relevance for a diverse audience.