UK Gambling Commission Faces Backlash Over New Gambling Harms Survey

The Office for Statistics Regulation published its findings in response to complaints from industry stakeholders, pointing to flaws in methodology and presentation that could lead to exaggerated portrayals of problem gambling.

In its review, the OSR identified several weaknesses in how the GSGB is conducted and presented, making four specific recommendations aimed at improving its reliability. The main concern is that the GSGB appears to produce significantly higher figures for gambling participation and harm compared to other surveys like the Health Survey for England (HSE), which is accredited as an official statistics source.

While the UKGC has defended the survey, citing “social desirability bias” as a reason for the discrepancy, arguing that people may underreport their gambling in face-to-face interviews.

Independent academic Professor Patrick Sturgis, who reviewed the GSGB methodology in 2024, warned of “a non-negligible risk” and that the survey “substantially over-states the true level of gambling and gambling harm.” He recommended that policymakers interpret the data with caution until further clarity is achieved.

Responding to the review, UKGC research director Ben Haden said:

“We welcome the findings from OSR… We are pleased they recognise the huge amount of work that the team has put into developing and delivering the largest survey of its kind in the world.”

However, the OSR noted that important limitations in the data, such as the Commission’s own guidance that GSGB results should not be used to measure population-wide gambling harm, were not made clear in the main bulletins.

Further concerns were raised about sample bias, with some suggesting that individuals with a stronger interest in gambling may be more likely to respond, skewing results. Questions were asked about the survey’s alignment with other data sources, which was not adequately addressed in the published materials.

The UKGC has already begun responding to some of the OSR’s concerns, including updated user guidance and a research project to evaluate specific survey methods. Results from this work are expected in summer 2025, with a more detailed response to the OSR’s findings due by July.

Despite these steps, some commentators remain sceptical. Regulus Partners criticised the UKGC’s initial response as dismissive, stating:

“One would be hard-pressed to find any acceptance of the criticisms… The OSR review is a golden opportunity for the Gambling Commission to do the right thing – to show that it has listened by acknowledging past missteps.”

The GSGB’s next annual report is due for release in October 2025.