OSR Recommendations for GSGB Welcomed By UKGC
The UK’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) has welcomed recommendations that have been made for the future of Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB).
The Gambling Commission has responded to OSR recommendations. © Erik Mclean, Unsplash
Key Facts:
- GSGB collects data from 20,000 respondents each year
- OSR says that it wants to refine GSGB statistics rather than evaluate their suitability for official accreditation
- UKGC and OSR are aligned on the future of the major survey
- Guidance for users of the GSGB was updated in February 2025
The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has confirmed that it has published its compliance review of the survey.
It said that the alignment between the GSGB and the Code of Practice for Statistics was one of the issues under consideration.
According to a statement made by the OSR, it wants to refine the GSGB statistics rather than check out how suitable they might be for official accreditation.
A set of nine recommendations have been made for improvements to the GSGB going forward.
UKGC noted changes are already being made to the GSGB, which last published guidance for users in February 2025, and the second annual report is due for publication in October.
Stakeholder Network And Communication Strategy
Among the recommendations made by the OSR are for the GSGB to expand its stakeholder network and collaborate more with official statistics producers.
It said UKGC should also publish a communication strategy regarding the survey, with this document needing to detail how updates will be shared.
Ed Humpherson, the director general for OSR, said in a statement that he accepts the Gambling Commission has already taken action to address some of the findings and recommendations.
He said: “I welcome this proactive approach and encourage the Commission to publicly set out the progress it has made. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the continued development of the GSGB.”
Humpherson went on to thank UKGC for the regulator’s “positive engagement” during the review process.
UKGC describes the GSGB as one of the largest studies about people’s gambling behaviours in the world, with data from 20,000 respondents being collected each year.
Huge Amount Of Work
The UKGC director of research and statistics, Ben Haden, said the body welcomes the update from the OSR.
He said: “We are pleased they recognise the huge amount of work the team has put into developing and delivering the largest survey of its kind in the world.
“We also welcome OSR’s recommendations for further action, which closely align with work that we already have underway.”
UKGC has announced plans to set up a new GSGB Statistics User Group, with 70 stakeholders already having expressed an interest in participating.
The regulator said the group “will serve as a forum for dialogue, feedback, and shared learning”, noting further improvements are underway in line with the recommendations that were made in the recent independent review of the GSGB from Professor Sturgis.
