This also highlights how lottery participation increases engagement among older age groups.

2.2 Popular Gambling Activities

The most common forms of gambling in Great Britain remain:

• National Lottery draws (highest participation product)
• Other charity lotteries
• Instant-win games and betting products as secondary activities

These patterns remain consistent across GSGB's rolling wave releases.

The most common reasons for adults to participate in gambling are:

2.3 Motivations for Gambling

• the chance of winning big money (85 percent),
• because gambling is fun (72 percent),
• to make money (57 percent)
• because it was exciting (56 percent).

This is consistent with the previous year and reflect the emotionally driven aspects of gambling behaviour.

2.4 Gambling-Related Risks and Harm

2.4.1 Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) Scores

The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) is used to measure both behavioural symptoms of gambling disorder and certain adverse consequences from gambling. The PGSI consists of 9 items that are rated on a 4 point-scale. The PGSI categories represent a continuum of risk, ranging from those experiencing no adverse consequences or behavioural symptoms of disorder to those experiencing both.

Using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI):

2.7% of adults score 8+, placing them in the high-risk/problem gambling category Higher-risk groups include:

• Men
• Adults aged 18–34