Tracking series on participation and problem gambling

Findings from the quarterly telephone survey: Statistics on participation and problem gambling for 2021. 

The Gambling Commission’s quarterly telephone tracker on participation and problem gambling is conducted by Yonder. The latest data is based upon a nationally representative sample of 4,018 adults aged 16 and over, interviewed via telephone in September 2021, December 2021, March 2022 and June 2022.

  • Following two years of disruption and restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, overall gambling participation remains lower than pre-covid levels, especially in relation to the proportion of people gambling in person.
  • The latest data for 2022 indicates that people are starting to return to in person activities including bingo, horse races and casino games, however, current participation rates remain below pre-pandemic levels.
  • The proportion of people gambling online has remained stable in this latest data release compared to the previous year, although the long-term trend continues to show steady growth, like many other sectors. Contributing to this long term trend has been people buying National Lottery tickets online instead of in shops.
  • In year to June 2022, overall participation in any gambling activity (in the last four weeks) remained statistically stable at 43% (compared to year to June 2021).
  • In year to June 2022, the in-person gambling participation rate remained statistically stable at 25%, although significantly below the pre-pandemic level (compared to year to June 2021).
  • The online gambling participation rate remained statistically stable at 26% (compared to year to June 2021.
  • The overall headline problem gambling rate as measured by the short form PGSI is statistically stable at 0.2%. The moderate risk and low risk rates are also statistically stable at 1.0% and 1.5% respectively (compared to year to June 2021).
  • Click here for full details on the Gambling Commission website.


Statistics from previous waves of the quarterly telephone tracker can be found below:

Annual reports of the findings can be found below:

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