Gambling in the UK continues to be a steady hobby for most, in light of new findings highlighting how exactly people approach their favourite activities. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) recently released the Wave-2 results of the Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB) for 2024. These results, which were put together by NatCen, give a pretty clear idea of the nation’s gambling habits, based on interviews with over 4,600 adults earlier this year.
The survey showed that 48% of people had gambled in the past four weeks, a number that’s remained pretty consistent over time. If you exclude lottery participation that figure drops to 28%. Lotteries are extremely influential in the gambling world, as Ted Menmuir pointed out in SBC News. These figures indicate how popular and central lotteries are to many people’s gambling routines.
Online platforms have become a big part of the picture too. Plenty of people are turning to these sites for a safe and enjoyable gaming experience, with the only issue for some being figuring out which are the best casino sites. It’s worth mentioning that the recent NatCen survey found that 37.4% of people had gambled online in the last month. When you exclude lottery-only participants, that number drops to 17.2%. Younger adults, especially those aged 25–34, are leading the charge, with 23.9% taking part in online gambling (not counting lotteries).
There are quite obvious differences in the way men gamble compared to women. Men tend to gamble more, with 52% having gambled in the past month compared to 43.6% of women. You’ll notice an even bigger difference in pastimes like sports betting and online casino games. For example, 18.5% of men had placed bets recently, compared to just 6.5% of women. Across age groups, the 45–54 age bracket showed the highest overall participation at 55.2%, largely because of the lottery. Although there was no data shared in the report about how weather impacted wagering, it’s likely that more players opt to stay indoors and play games when the weather is poor.
Apart from lotteries, scratchcards (12%) and betting (12%) were also popular. When it comes to betting, sports, and racing take the lead, which just goes to show how much people enjoy hobbies that are fast-paced and exhilarating. But the love for lotteries proves that simpler, more traditional games still hold a special place.
Online platforms are playing an even bigger role these days. With mobile-friendly sites and relatively solid gambling regulations, they’ve made gambling easier and more appealing to a lot more people. Online betting is convenient and it means that players don’t have to drive, travel to an airport, or leave the house to play games. This switch that folks are making over to digital is shaking up the industry, but, even still, traditional options like lotteries aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Insights like these give us a really good idea of how gambling is changing in the UK. While participation rates are steady, new trends—like the rise of online gambling—are shaping the future. Keeping things safe and enjoyable for everyone is still a top priority for both regulators and operators.
It doesn’t matter if you’re into scratchcards, sports betting, or just the good old lottery, there’s no shortage of options. Platforms like the ones recommended by experts make it easy for people to enjoy their favourite games in a safe and fun way.
