Centre for Gambling Research

For more than 20 years, we have produced cutting edge research into gambling, exploring related behaviours, harms and stigma.

We have established the Centre for Gambling Research to build on our expertise in this field, and to advance knowledge of the modern gambling landscape by generating robust evidence and timely insights to inform policy and practice.

At the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), we work at the intersection of industry regulators, service and treatment providers and public stakeholders to inform policy and regulation. We combine rigorous methods with topic expertise to investigate gambling prevalence and to inform public understanding of behaviours and risk profiles linked to gambling harm and stigma. The Centre brings together NatCen's collective knowledge and expertise in this area, with researchers working collaboratively across teams, such as the Centre for Health and the Centre for Evaluation.

Since delivering the British Gambling Prevalence Survey for the Gambling Commission in 2000, NatCen has, through our specialist knowledge and collaborations, strengthened our reputation as a leader in the gambling research landscape.

Our Patterns of Play programme of research was the first of its kind in the UK to explore the online gambling market. The evidence we generated played a pivotal role in the development of the Gambling Reforms White Paper.

We are now working with the Gambling Commission on its new mixed mode random probability gambling prevalence and problem gambling participation survey. This is designed to replace its previous gambling surveys with one large scale, high quality and timely survey that meets the Commission’s information needs.

At the Centre for Gambling Research, we work closely with our customers to design and deliver responsive research. Across our research portfolio, we apply the best possible methods, including nationally representative random probability surveys, data analytics and insights, and mixed methods evaluations of interventions. At the same time, we seek to incorporate and amplify the voices of those with lived experiences of gambling through our qualitative research approaches and expert by experience panels.

Get in touch

We would be happy to discuss your research needs or if you would like to collaborate with us, then please drop us an email at gamblingresearch@natcen.ac.uk.