Gambling report finds tougher regulation ‘would enjoy strong support’ in Britain

A new report, examining the British public’s attitudes towards the gambling sector, shows there would be strong support for tighter regulation.

The conclusions come from “End a losing streak” report from the More In Common think tank and Coalition to End Gambling Ads which examines the way Brits play and their changing attitude towards the industry.

A poll commissioned by CEGA shows that the majority of the public strongly supports restrictions on gambling advertising.

This is the year the government can make it happen.

Read the full report: https://t.co/MccjDSCNaChttps://t.co/mWszYXAAjm pic.twitter.com/csg9ncAVlp

– Coalition to End Gambling Ads (@EndGamblingAds) January 1, 2026

As the industry booms globally, almost two thirds (63%) of Brits say they are now seeing more gambling advertising on television in recent yearsthe same number reporting seeing more online gambling ads and more gambling ads as sponsors of sports teams. The visibility of the industry in cities, communities and clubs has also been noted.

68% of Brits say under-18s should not see gambling advertising at all, study finds

Gambling advertising was noticed by those surveyed, with two thirds of Brits (68%) saying under-18s should not see gambling advertising at all.

Only 8% of regular gamers say gambling can have a “very negative” effect on people, compared to 52% of people who have never gambled.

Why should gamers care what people who have never played think about our hobby?https://t.co/Vj6uP8i9xi pic.twitter.com/31TfIMuq5c

– Chris Fawcett (@chrisgambler247) January 2, 2026

“From two-thirds of Reform voters to three-quarters of Green voters, across the political spectrum, there is consensus that it is unacceptable for gambling advertising to be shown to children. Some Britons go further and view any activity as a ‘gateway’, because although under-18s cannot yet gamble legally, it creates interest in an industry which then sucks them in,” the report said.

When it comes to gambling, more than two in five respondents say they play from time to time or regularly, with the National Lottery being the most popular form. Online sports betting is also increasingly popular, with 38% of respondents saying they bet on football or horse racing at least once a week.

Although they are the most common forms of gambling, 55% of Brits say lottery tickets and scratch cards should also be kept out of sight of young people and treated like cigarettes, where they are hidden at checkouts.

“Moving away from gaming, More in Common’s research reveals that Britons increasingly feel like the government doesn’t care about them or have the capacity to improve their lives. Gaming is another piece of this puzzle, which makes British citizens feel that politicians don’t understand the big issues that ordinary people face.”

The subject of gambling has been a controversial subject in the UK in recent months, with the latest budget to bring some changes for the sector. There could be more to come as well, as this is a recurring topic in the local press.

Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram

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