Key Moments:
- The UK Gambling Commission has awarded a new four-year contract (2026-2029) for the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB).
- NatCen and the University of Glasgow will continue collaborating to advance GSGB’s comprehensive gambling behavior analysis.
- Future developments include exploration of longitudinal research and enhanced data linkage.
Contract Extension Secures GSGB’s Future
The UK Gambling Commission confirmed that NatCen and the University of Glasgow will lead the GSGB for another four years. This period covers 2026 to 2029. This agreement reflects several years of development. The GSGB launched in 2024 as the official source for gambling behavior statistics across Great Britain.
GSGB’s Expanding Role in Gambling Research
Since its introduction, the GSGB became a major source of in-depth data.
It tracks how people in Great Britain engage with gambling. The survey’s findings help the Commission track changes in gambling activity. They also support the production of extensive topic-specific reports. These analyses explored motivations for gambling. They also examined patterns among frequent bettors. Additionally, they investigated links between gambling behaviors and PGSI scores.
The UK Gambling Commission has also acknowledged the University of Glasgow for its significant analytical input. Their contributions have offered greater insight into gambling patterns throughout the country.
Collaboration and Future Development
Mari Toomse-Smith, Director of Health and Biomedical Surveys at NatCen, said: “We are honoured to have been trusted by the Gambling Commission to lead on the delivery of the GSGB. We worked closely with the Commission to design a state-of-the-art survey and are pleased to be able to continue the GSGB journey with the Gambling Commission and the University of Glasgow.
“GSGB plays a pivotal role at the UK gambling data infrastructure, and its potential will only grow with each new survey year.”
Professor Heather Wardle said: “We are delighted to extend our contract with the Gambling Commission and our work on the GSGB. We’re excited to work with the Commission to explore how we can further enhance the GSGB, looking at how survey data can be merged with information about gambling from other sources, and looking at how we can better understand how behaviours change over time.
“We’re especially well placed to do this, having led methodological innovation on understanding gambling for the last 20 years”
Advancing Evidence and Data Quality
In the coming four years, NatCen and the University of Glasgow are expected to continue improving the GSGB, reaffirming the Commission’s emphasis on high-quality evidence. The Commission’s evidence roadmaps set the direction for new initiatives, such as using the GSGB for longitudinal studies and increased data integration, broadening the understanding of how gambling behaviors shift over time.
Commission’s Perspective on the GSGB’s Impact
Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy, said: “The Gambling Survey for Great Britain has already transformed our understanding of how people gamble, providing richer, more reliable insight than ever before. We are pleased to award this new contract to NatCen and the University of Glasgow, whose expertise has been central to the GSGB’s success so far.
“Over the next four years we’ll continue to strengthen the survey and expand what it can tell us—whether that’s through deeper analysis or exploring opportunities for longitudinal research. This work is fundamental to ensuring our regulation is rooted in the best possible evidence.”
| Entity | Role | Period Covered |
|---|---|---|
| NatCen & University of Glasgow | Delivery and advancement of GSGB | 2026-2029 |
- Author
Daniel Williams
