UK Gambling Commission Scores Consumer Trust At 47.9%

The Gambling Commission has published research measuring consumer trust in Britain’s gambling industry, producing a composite score of 47.9%.

The figure was drawn from questions added to the Gambling Survey for Great Britain. Participants rated eight statements covering accountability, transparency, corruption, fairness and the protection of children and vulnerable people.

Respondents selected a score between one and five to show how strongly they agreed or disagreed with each statement. The results formed the trust index. Previous studies asked consumers whether they considered the gambling industry trustworthy. 

This new approach will provide a better view of where confidence is stronger and concerns remain. The regulator stressed that the research is still under development and that the findings should be treated as indicative.

Accountability scores highest while fairness and protection receive weaker ratings

Accountability to the regulator received the strongest result, with 66.3% of respondents agreeing that the industry is held responsible for its conduct. Trust dropped when participants were asked whether gambling offers and betting odds are easy to understand, recording 50.1% for this category.

The weakest results concerned corruption, protection of young and vulnerable people, and game fairness. Scores across those categories ranged from 42.8% to 40.1%. Differences also emerged between gambling products. Respondents rated only activities they had used during the previous four weeks.

Lottery draws had the largest sample, with 6,388 participants, but produced a composite trust score of 48.6%. Casino games recorded the highest product score at 53.2%, although that result came from the smallest sample of 466 respondents.

Age differences and illegal gambling will guide further research

Age was a factor. Consumers aged between 18 and 24 recorded the lowest composite trust score at 43.6%. Trust increased steadily across older groups, reaching 51.7% among respondents aged 75 and above.

The commission plans to refine the questions during 2026 as part of its data assurance work. The current index will provide a foundation for future comparisons rather than a final assessment of industry confidence.

The regulator also identified the illegal gambling market as an area for further research. Its size and influence on consumer perceptions remain difficult to measure and were not fully captured in the latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain.