Nearly one in eleven adults affected by others’ gambling in 2024

The Gambling Commission (UKGC) has reported that nearly one in 11 adults in Great Britain experienced harm caused by another person’s gambling during 2024.

The findings came from new analysis of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) 2024. The study had responses from 19,714 adults aged 18 and over. The survey centred on the wider impact gambling can have on family members, partners and social networks.

According to the UKGC, 48% of adults said they knew someone close to them who gambled. Around 9% of all adults, roughly 1.6 million people, said they experienced at least one harmful consequence linked to another person’s gambling within the previous 12 months.

Younger women are more likely to experience harm

The analysis found affected others were more likely to be younger and female. Women accounted for 55% of those impacted. Around 46% were aged between 25 and 44.

Many affected others also gambled themselves. Around 63% had gambled during the previous year. This is compared with 60% of the wider adult population. Participation in higher-risk gambling activities was also notably higher among this group. This included in-person betting and casino gambling.

Among affected others who also gambled, 21.5% fell into the problem gambling category under the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). This compares with 4.5% across the wider gambling population.

The UKGC said the findings suggested harms often exist within households or social circles where multiple people gamble regularly.

Health and relationship harms most common

Health-related harms were the most frequently reported issue, affecting 73.7% of affected others. Relationship harms were reported by 65.3%, while 42.5% experienced financial or resource-related consequences.

Stress or anxiety was the most commonly reported specific issue, cited by 57.9% of respondents. Shame or embarrassment followed at 52%, while 45.4% reported increased conflict or arguments.

More severe harms were also recorded. Overall, 26.6% of affected others experienced at least one severe consequence, including relationship breakdown, financial hardship, abuse or criminal activity.

Among those reporting severe harms, nearly three-quarters (74.3%) linked the experience to relationship breakdown.

Support uptake remains low

Despite the scale of reported harms, relatively few affected others sought support. Just 14.5% accessed help because of another person’s gambling during the past year.

Those who also gambled themselves were more likely to seek assistance than non-gambling affected others, with support ranging from mental health services to relationship counselling and gambling-specific organisations.

The report follows separate figures released earlier this year by GamCare. These showed 1,954 people used its Money Guidance Service in 2025 after experiencing gambling-related financial losses. That figure more than doubled year-on-year.

The UKGC said further qualitative research will now take place. This will aim to better understand how gambling-related harms affect wider social groups and families.