The Gambling Commission’s annual survey found that 2.7 per cent of adults scored eight or above on the problem gambling severity index…reports Asian Lite News
Landmark survey reveals scale of addiction as Treasury eyes new taxes on £11.5bn betting industry
An estimated 1.4 million adults in Great Britain are living with a gambling problem, according to landmark figures published on Thursday, just days after the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, signalled that bookmakers and online casinos could face higher taxes in the forthcoming autumn budget.
The Gambling Commission’s annual survey found that 2.7 per cent of adults scored eight or above on the problem gambling severity index, a widely accepted international tool that measures the harm and negative consequences caused by betting. For the first time, the regulator has confirmed that the percentage can be confidently extrapolated across the national population, putting the number of adults with a gambling problem at around 1.4 million – a figure larger than the entire population of Birmingham.
The regulator had previously been cautious, warning against applying its survey data to the general public. But after further statistical analysis and peer review, the watchdog dropped its caveat, putting it on a potential collision course with an industry that generates billions of pounds in revenue every year.
The survey, which questioned more than 19,000 people, also highlights a sharper prevalence of gambling problems in deprived areas, as well as higher risks associated with specific formats such as slot machines and in-play betting on sports. The findings will put further pressure on ministers to act as concerns mount over the social and economic fallout from problem gambling.
The release of the commission’s assessment comes at a politically sensitive moment. Speaking at a Labour conference event earlier this week, Reeves said there was a strong case for gambling companies “paying more” towards public finances. Industry insiders now expect an increase in duties, though the size of the rise remains unclear.
The debate has been sharpened by Gordon Brown, who recently called for a hike of up to £3 billion in gambling levies to help fund the abolition of the two-child benefit cap. The former prime minister’s intervention echoes proposals from leading thinktanks including the Social Market Foundation and the Institute for Public Policy Research. While few expect Reeves to go as far as Brown suggests, Treasury officials are thought to be studying the new survey closely as they weigh the economic value of the industry against its broader social costs.
The betting sector employs thousands and pays billions in tax, but critics argue it drains the economy by extracting an estimated £11.5 billion annually from punters. Public health campaigners warn that the cost to individuals, families and communities is far greater than headline figures suggest, citing rising levels of debt, mental health issues and relationship breakdowns linked to gambling addiction.
The survey also carries symbolic weight for the regulator itself. The 2.7 per cent figure comes from the commission’s Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB), now adopted as its new “gold standard” methodology. It replaces the older health survey model, which produced a far lower estimate of 0.4 per cent. That older number has for years been the industry’s preferred reference point, and the Betting & Gaming Council has repeatedly leaned on it in public debate. The trade body was approached for comment on the latest figures but had not responded at the time of publication.
Andrew Rhodes, the chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said the data offered a sobering reminder of the risks posed by unchecked betting. “This year’s findings deepen our understanding of consequences from gambling and provide crucial insight into risk profiles among those who gamble most frequently,” he said. “We strongly encourage operators to use this evidence to consider the risks within their own customer bases.”
Public health advocates welcomed the new clarity, arguing that accurate data was essential for shaping policy. “For years the true scale of gambling harm in this country has been masked by flawed statistics,” said one campaigner. “This report leaves no room for doubt: millions are struggling, and it is time the industry was made to shoulder a fairer share of the burden.”
Industry representatives, however, are likely to push back, warning that steep tax rises could damage jobs and investment in a sector that has already faced tighter regulation. They argue that problem gambling is concentrated among a small minority of users and say they have invested heavily in safer gambling measures and customer protections.
Nevertheless, the figures published on Thursday are expected to strengthen the government’s hand as it prepares new fiscal measures. With Reeves under pressure to fund welfare priorities without breaking Labour’s pledge to keep borrowing under control, the gambling industry is now firmly in the Treasury’s sights.
The question for ministers will be how far they are prepared to go. A modest rise in duties could placate critics without provoking a major backlash from operators. But a more aggressive move in line with Brown’s £3 billion proposal would mark one of the biggest shake-ups in gambling taxation for a generation.
What is no longer in doubt is the scale of the problem. For more than a million people across Britain, gambling is no longer just a flutter – it is an addiction that carries severe personal and social consequences. And for the government, the political stakes in tackling it are rising as quickly as the financial ones.
