The UK Gambling Commission has released data covering quarterly gambling participation and problem gambling prevalence for the year to September 2022.
Online gambling participation at highest ever level
According to the data, online gambling participation in the UK has grown to 27%. This is the highest rate ever recorded by the Gambling Commission. The report also reveals that despite the increase in online activity, overall participation in gambling is almost at pre-pandemic levels growing to 44% falling just short of the 47% reported across the same period in 2019.
The latest data is based on a quarterly telephone survey conducted by Yonder Consulting. This included 4,018 adults aged 16 and over who were surveyed on four occasions from December 2021 through to September 2022. The Commission’s results are based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). This index asks three questions of participants who have gambled in the last 12 months and is used to determine the rate of problem gambling per head of the population.
The 25-34 year old age group reported the highest increase in gambling activity. 43% of this group had gambled in the previous four weeks, an increase on the 38% reported in the same period in 2021.
The highest increase in online betting activity was reported by the 35-44 age group. Online gambling activity in this group grew from 29% to 32%. The only group to report a decrease in online gambling was the 65+ age group which dropped from 19% to 17%.
Problem gambling was once again highest among the 16-24 year old group at 1.4%, up from 0.8% in the previous quarter and 0.4% in 2021. Meanwhile the 35-44 year old age group which is historically the group with the highest rate of problem gambling, remained stable at 0.2% in the latest survey.
Based in London, Natasha is a former sports journalist with experience working for some of the biggest athletes & brands in the world of sports and iGaming.