Safer Gambling Week: New Research Shows Over Five Million Adults Want to Cut Down on Gambling

As Safer Gambling Week gets underway, new research from the British gambling harms charity GambleAware estimates that more than five million people are looking to cut down on their gambling.

The figure is based on findings from the charity’s Great Britain Treatment and Support Survey, combined with the latest population data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Using the total British adult population of 53.5 million from the most recent ONS release, GambleAware applied the 60.8 per cent of respondents in its 2024 Treatment and Support Survey who said they gamble at least once a week.

Of the 18,000 adults surveyed, 16.1 per cent said they wanted to reduce or stop gambling altogether – a proportion that translates to around 5.3 million adults across Britain.

GambleAware CEO Anna Hargrave said the figures “highlights just how much our tools and services are needed.”

The Betting and Gaming Council is among the organisations backing Safer Gambling Week. CEO Grainne Hurst said:

“As ever, the week sees the whole industry coming together to further promote safer gambling for the millions of people who enjoy a regular flutter.

“It’s a time to highlight all the tools available so that customers can stay in control. And to signpost help and advice to those who need it.

“Last year’s campaign was a great success with over 1.5 million unique accounts using a safer gambling tool during the week.”

Andrew Rhodes, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, added:

“Safer Gambling Week is an important moment for the industry to demonstrate its commitment to protecting customers and promoting responsible play.

“While progress has been made, we must continue to ensure that the tools and protections available to consumers are effective and widely promoted.

“Collaboration and evidence-based action remain central to making gambling in Great Britain fairer, safer and crime-free."