UKGC reports higher gambling harm among ethnic minority groups in Great Britain
Regulation2 min read
The UK Gambling Commission published research on 27 October 2026 using combined Gambling Survey for Great Britain data from 2023, 2024 and 2025. It found that 7.7% of participants with mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds had a PGSI score of at least 8, compared with 1.9% of white participants; the analysis shows an association, not a cause.
The British regulator published research on 27 October 2026 on gambling participation and harm among ethnic groups. The research combines data from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The researchers distinguish participants with white, mixed, Asian, Black or other ethnic backgrounds.
In the whole population surveyed, 1.9% of white participants scored 8 or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), against 7.7% of participants with a mixed or multiple ethnic background. According to the UKGC, participants from minority groups generally reported negative consequences for their health, relationships or finances three to four times more often. The gap also appeared among participants with a PGSI score of zero: 2.7% of white participants reported at least one negative consequence, compared with 7% to 10.6% in the other groups.
On participation, 50.3% of white participants had gambled in the previous four weeks, while the figure for the four other groups ranged from 28.6% to 44.1%. The UKGC said this difference arose mainly because white participants took part in lotteries more often. For many individual types of gambling, participants from ethnic minority groups took part more often, and they played more types of gambling on average. The regulator warned that general participation figures can mask important differences.
The differences in PGSI scores persisted after the researchers adjusted for factors including age, income, education, socioeconomic circumstances and the types of gambling played. The analysis shows an association but does not explain the difference. It also does not prove that a person's ethnic background causes gambling harm.
The UKGC itself noted limitations, saying the categories cover broad and varied population groups. Some samples were small: the report gives 43,809 white participants against 337 in the category of other ethnic background. As a result, some estimates are more sensitive to outliers. The UKGC calls for further research into underlying causes and into how accessible help is. About three-quarters of participants with a PGSI score of 3 or higher had not sought help.