TLDR UK problem gambling fell to 2.4% in 2025, down from 2.7% in 2024 Men aged 55 and over were the only group with a measurable rise in non-lottery gambling Gambling participation among 18 to 24 year olds kept falling Help-seeking rose among 35 to 54 year olds but fell sharply among older adults affected by someone else’s gambling Researchers question the survey’s methods, pointing to gaps between its estimates and operator data
The UK Gambling Commission released its third annual gambling survey on July 16. It found that problem gambling rates fell in 2025, the first drop since the survey began three years ago.
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain tracks how people gamble and how many show signs of harm. The results help the regulator compare trends across age groups and genders each year.
Older Men Show Rising Participation
The overall problem gambling rate dropped to 2.4% in 2025, down from 2.7% in 2024. That figure equals about 1.3 million adults across Great Britain.
Gambling among young adults kept falling. Participation among 18 to 24 year olds dropped to 48% in 2025, compared with 52% in 2024 and 54% in 2023.
The 35 to 44 age group had the highest overall participation rate, at 66%.
One group moved the opposite direction. Men aged 55 and over were the only demographic with a measurable rise in gambling on activities other than lottery games.
Their participation rose from 27% in 2023 to 32% in 2025. Gambling within the past four weeks for this group also climbed, from 18% to 22%.
No other group, including women the same age, showed this pattern. Younger and middle-aged men both saw participation fall or stay flat over the same period.
Adults aged 65 to 74 also showed a smaller rise. Their