Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will make an estimate of the level of problem gambling in the UK.

As set out in Public Health England’s evidence review on gambling-related harms, the estimated overall adult population problem gambling rate for England was 0.5% in 2018. The 2016 Great Britain wide combined Health Survey found a problem gambling rate of 0.7%. The overall rate has been stable below 1% for over two decades, but there are variations below this headline level depending on region, age, sex and other factors.

To supplement the Health Surveys and for more up to date information, the Gambling Commission carries out a quarterly survey by telephone on a smaller sample using a shortened problem gambling screen. For the year to December 2022 this estimated an adult population problem gambling rate of 0.2%.

The Government’s Review of the Gambling Act aims to ensure the right protections and requirements on operators are in place to prevent harm. We will publish a white paper setting out our assessment, conclusions and next steps in the coming weeks.