UKGC study reports higher gambling-risk rates among ethnic minority groups

The UK Gambling Commission published research on 27 October examining differences in gambling behaviour and harm across ethnic groups in Great Britain, using data from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Gambling Survey for Great Britain. The study was carried out by researchers from NatCen and the University of Glasgow, the UKGC said.

Problem gambling, defined as a PGSI score of 8 or above, was reported by 1.9% of white participants and by 7.7% of those with mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds, according to the findings. Recent gamblers from ethnic minority groups were also more likely to describe serious consequences, such as relationship breakups, major financial losses and troubles affecting their health, finances or personal relationships.

Gambling in the four weeks before the survey was more commonly reported by white participants, but their greater involvement in National Lottery and charity lottery draws explained much of the gap; once people who had bought only lottery tickets were left out, the difference in overall participation shrank. Ethnic minority participants showed more engagement with other gambling types. In-person bets on the outcomes of events were placed by those of mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds at roughly five times the rate of white participants. Gambling on at least three different types in the four-week period was also more common among mixed or multiple ethnic and black participants.

Researchers found that demographic characteristics, socioeconomic circumstances and gambling participation accounted for part of the differences, though not most of the variation in risk and adverse outcomes. The ethnic gaps widened at lower PGSI scores: at least one other possible adverse outcome was reported by 2.7% of white recent gamblers who scored zero, while the equivalent figures for ethnic minority groups ran from 7.0% to 10.6%. According to the researchers, this points to existing gambling risk measures possibly failing to capture the struggles of some individuals.

Seeking help was more common among ethnic minority participants, yet the study found that demand still outstripped the support actually used. Across all ethnic groups, the great majority of those with a PGSI score of at least three had not turned to any support service. According to the UKGC, the work adds to the evidence base it uses to understand how gambling behavior differs between communities. The researchers also suggested that further study involving people who have personally experienced gambling-related harm could shed light on the disparities and help shape better prevention and support strategies.