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A new study from GambleAware shows that millions of adults in the UK want to reduce or stop gambling, signalling a major shift in how people think about support and risk.
The findings come from the charity’s 2024 Treatment and Support Survey, carried out by YouGov. The results give a clearer view of UK gambling support trends and show more people choosing early help before gambling reaches harmful stages. The study also highlights growing interest in simple digital tools designed to help users track habits and understand risk.
A clearer picture of gambling behaviour in the UK
The data shows strong interest in support, even among people not classified as problem gamblers.
Key findings from the survey:
- 60.8% of adults in Great Britain gambled in the past year
- This equals 32.5 million people
- 5.3 million said they want to reduce or quit gambling
- around 3.9 million showed no signs of problem gambling on the PGSI
- 3 in 10 gamblers aged 18 to 34 want to reduce or quit
- This young adult group represents about 2.3 million people
The results show that most people seeking change do not meet the criteria for problem gambling. GambleAware says this reflects growing interest in early support and low-pressure tools.
Digital tools are becoming a central part of early support
More people are using online tools to check their habits and find help.
GambleAware reports strong demand for its digital services. CEO Anna Hargrave said the scale of engagement shows how important accessible support has become.
Since July 2024, the Service Finder has recorded:
- more than 42,000 searches for help
- more than 13,000 referral clicks to treatment providers
- strong use from people entering the National Gambling Support Network
The National Gambling Support Network is made up of 13 organisations offering prevention, treatment and aftercare across the country.
Two other tools have also seen significant use:
- Self-Assessment tool: more than 87,000 completions since April 2023
- Spend Calculator: nearly 6,000 completions since December 2023
People use these tools to understand their gambling behaviour in private and receive guidance if needed.
Guidelines help people measure their own risk
Simple rules are helping users compare their spending with safer limits.
The Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines recommend:
- spending no more than 1% of monthly income on gambling
- gambling on no more than four days per month
- avoiding more than two types of gambling in the same month
These guidelines help people check their behaviour during the transition to the new statutory gambling-harms system, planned for completion in April next year. GambleAware said it is working with incoming commissioners to make sure services remain stable during the change.
A shift toward early action
More people are choosing support before gambling becomes harmful.
The findings show a wider change in how people think about gambling. Interest in early tools suggests that many users want to stay in control without waiting for problems to develop. For the industry, this reflects a growing need for trusted information, simple self-check systems and clear access to guidance.
The study also highlights the importance of prevention. As more people look for help, there may be increased demand for tools that protect users before risks escalate.
Millions are already taking steps to understand their gambling habits. The question now is how quickly the wider support system can evolve to match this rising demand.
Source: NEXT.io
