The latest NHS statistics into gambling prevalence state that problem gambling rates in England remain stable, as authorities require a better understood public health view of gambling harm impacts across communities.

Data from the NHS Health Survey for England 2024 (HSE 2024) put the number of UK adults at risk of some form of problem gambling at 5%, with under 1% classed as suffering from problem gambling.

As with most surveys into British gambling preferences and gambling related harm, the study – which only looks at England and not the other three nations of the UK – maintains the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) as the primary methodology to measure gambling harm rates.

The PGSI has been used as the main indicator of gambling harm since 2016 when it was adopted by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) as a replacement for DSM-IV, the model which had been used since the 1990s.

Anyone with a PGSI score of eight or more, based on their answers to survey questions, is considered a problem gambler. Scores of between one and two indicate low risk and between three and seven indicate moderate risk.

Stable rates don’t tell full story

According to the 2024 survey, of the 5% of adults with a score of one or more the number classed as encountering problem gambling was 1% in 2024, suggesting a somewhat stable rate with previous survey estimates.

This does suggest an increase from some previous NHS surveys. A 2021 survey, for example, put the problem gambling rate at 0.3% – a period in which Survey participation and response was impacted by COVID-19 adjustments.

However, it does show a significant disparity with UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) data, also derived from the PGSI as discussed above. Stats from Year Two of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), published in October 2025, put the rate at 2.7%.

After problem gamblers, HSE 2024 put the number of people across England at low-risk of gambling harm at 3%, while the number of people at moderate risk of gambling harm stands at 1%. Nationwide, the 5% figure has been translated to account for between 4.2% and 5.8% of the population.

Overall, as the summary of the NHS survey states, rates of problem gambling from low to severe remain relatively stable in England. However, this will not excuse the betting sector from political scrutiny, with a number of policymakers vocally calling for gambling to be viewed as a public health issue in 2025.

The survey has taken note of the reforms introduced by the Gambling Act review, with the White Paper published back in April 2023. It adds, though, that despite these reforms the UK hosts ‘one of the most accessible gambling markets in the world’.

“Opportunities to gamble exist on most high streets and, with access to the internet, in virtually every home,” the survey said. “Concerns regarding the harms associated with gambling have been increasing in the UK in recent years and gambling is viewed as a public health issue.”

Men are the outlier of risks

The NHS survey also provided some insights into the regional and demographic contrasts relating to gambling harm across England. Firstly, on a gender basis, men saw a higher PGSI score than women.

Overall, 7% of English men scored one or more on the PGSI score, and 1% were considered problem gamblers. In comparison, only 3% of women scored one or more and the number of problem gamblers was rounded down to 0% in datasets – though it is likely higher than this given margins of error.

Perhaps most significant, however, are the regional disparities, with problem gambling and overall risk of gambling harm more likely in northern England and in coastal regions, these also being areas more likely to see higher rates of social deprivation.

The Yorkshire and the Humber region of Northern England had the highest rate of people with a score of one or more at 7%, followed by the North East, South East and South West at 6%, London at 5%, the North West, East of England and West Midlands at 4%, and finally the East Midlands at 3%.

This could prove significant in the context of both the calls for gambling to be viewed as a public health issue and for more powers to be given to local councils. Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, has been particularly vocal in calling for the latter, with a number of MPs and councillors joining her push for the ‘Aim to Permit’ rule around licensing to be scrapped.

Focus on levy application

Meanwhile, proponents of the gambling as a public health argument, which received backing from members of the Health and Social Care Select Committee last year, have often argued that approaches to problem gambling need to be contextualised to regional requirements.

While the NHS’ latest datasets do show that problem gambling rates remain overall stable, and are much lower than issues like alcohol abuse, tobacco and e-cigarette smoking, and obesity, concerns remain that will continue to fuel political and regulatory debate around this industry.

The NHS’ role in gambling harm research, education and treatment (RET) will only grow from here on out. The service is taking on more gambling harm treatment duties by becoming the main commissioner of projects in this area as overseer of the RET levy, taking over from GambleAware.