Read the 2026 gambling participation survey denominators

Start with population, period and question

A participation percentage is interpretable only when the reader knows who was sampled, which activity window was asked about and whether lottery-only participation is included.

The Commission reports a nationally representative sample of 5,277 adults surveyed from 19 January to 26 May 2026 and says the figures are estimates subject to confidence intervals. Define the limit by inflow, duration and reset rule before entering a number. For Record the fieldwork frame, preserve sample beside population and do not close the question until fieldwork start is independently checked. Review the account history on a fixed schedule rather than after a loss.

Record the fieldwork frame

Publication date and respondent fieldwork dates answer different questions. Store sample size, adult population, collection window and release date. Keep deposits, withdrawals, losses and account balance in separate fields. A useful survey denominator card links fieldwork end to release, names the origin of Define past-four-week participation and explains why measure is still relevant. The working row is sample, population, fieldwork start, fieldwork end and release; its heading is record the fieldwork frame, and its place in the larger record is survey denominator card.

Do not describe the wave as a live count of people gambling today. Test a decrease immediately and record when an increase would take effect. When population and release disagree, retain both observations, recheck Record the fieldwork frame and postpone any decision that depends on Define past-four-week participation. Store sample size, adult population, collection window and release date. For this record the fieldwork frame decision, compare sample, population, fieldwork start, fieldwork end and release with survey denominator card and retain the dated mismatch instead of forcing agreement.

Define past-four-week participation

The headline uses activity during a stated recall window. Write the exact measure beside the 49 percent estimate. Test a decrease immediately and record when an increase would take effect. When population and release disagree, retain both observations, recheck Record the fieldwork frame and postpone any decision that depends on Define past-four-week participation. The working row is measure, estimate, recall window, base and interval; its heading is define past-four-week participation, and its place in the larger record is survey denominator card.

Do not call a survey estimate an account count or customer database. Treat a limit as one control inside a wider spending plan. The reviewer should reproduce fieldwork start from fieldwork end, identify the unit attached to sample and see the collection time for measure. Write the exact measure beside the 49 percent estimate. For this define past-four-week participation decision, compare measure, estimate, recall window, base and interval with survey denominator card and retain the dated mismatch instead of forcing agreement.

Separate lottery-only participation

Removing people who only took part in lottery draws changes the estimate substantially. Place 49 percent overall and 28 percent excluding lottery-only participation in distinct rows. Treat a limit as one control inside a wider spending plan. The reviewer should reproduce fieldwork start from fieldwork end, identify the unit attached to sample and see the collection time for measure. The working row is overall estimate, exclusion rule, adjusted estimate, difference and note; its heading is separate lottery-only participation, and its place in the larger record is survey denominator card.

Do not subtract or recombine categories without the table definitions. Review the account history on a fixed schedule rather than after a loss. Finish the row by stating who will verify Define past-four-week participation, which source governs population and what change would make release obsolete. Place 49 percent overall and 28 percent excluding lottery-only participation in distinct rows. For this separate lottery-only participation decision, compare overall estimate, exclusion rule, adjusted estimate, difference and note with survey denominator card and retain the dated mismatch instead of forcing agreement.

Keep attitudes and activity apart

A reported feeling about the last gambling experience is not a measure of spend or harm. Label attitude questions with their respondent base and wording. Review the account history on a fixed schedule rather than after a loss. Finish the row by stating who will verify Define past-four-week participation, which source governs population and what change would make release obsolete. The working row is question, base, response category, estimate and caveat; its heading is keep attitudes and activity apart, and its place in the larger record is survey denominator card.

Do not convert positive sentiment into evidence that gambling is safe. Define the limit by inflow, duration and reset rule before entering a number. For Record the fieldwork frame, preserve sample beside population and do not close the question until fieldwork start is independently checked. Label attitude questions with their respondent base and wording. For this keep attitudes and activity apart decision, compare question, base, response category, estimate and caveat with survey denominator card and retain the dated mismatch instead of forcing agreement.

Respect comparability limits

Methodological changes can make older publications unsuitable for direct trend claims. Record the Commission's comparability warning before presenting a time series. Define the limit by inflow, duration and reset rule before entering a number. For Record the fieldwork frame, preserve sample beside population and do not close the question until fieldwork start is independently checked. The working row is series, method, comparable period, limitation and reviewer; its heading is respect comparability limits, and its place in the larger record is survey denominator card.

Do not infer growth or decline from unlike survey designs. Keep deposits, withdrawals, losses and account balance in separate fields. A useful survey denominator card links fieldwork end to release, names the origin of Define past-four-week participation and explains why measure is still relevant. Record the Commission's comparability warning before presenting a time series. For this respect comparability limits decision, compare series, method, comparable period, limitation and reviewer with survey denominator card and retain the dated mismatch instead of forcing agreement.

Use the official release and technical notes together

The publication provides the headline results, sample information and explicit cautions about estimates and methodology. The reviewer should reproduce fieldwork start from fieldwork end, identify the unit attached to sample and see the collection time for measure. Keep deposits, withdrawals, losses and account balance in separate fields. Use SignalBet guides only to clarify Record the fieldwork frame or sample; the named source remains responsible for population and fieldwork start.

Survey participation does not reveal registrations, deposits, revenue or an individual's risk. Finish the row by stating who will verify Define past-four-week participation, which source governs population and what change would make release obsolete. Test a decrease immediately and record when an increase would take effect. That limit keeps fieldwork end distinct from release and prevents Define past-four-week participation from being stretched into a claim about measure.

Publish the denominator beside every percentage

The final card should let a reader trace each number to its population, timeframe, question and uncertainty statement. A useful survey denominator card links fieldwork end to release, names the origin of Define past-four-week participation and explains why measure is still relevant. Treat a limit as one control inside a wider spending plan. A completed survey denominator card should leave Record the fieldwork frame traceable, fieldwork start bounded and Define past-four-week participation ready for its next dated review.

Population statistics cannot predict personal outcomes and should never be used to encourage gambling. Adults 18+ who meet local law should treat gambling as optional entertainment rather than income or debt recovery, protect essential money, set cash and time limits before play, never borrow or chase losses, and use the responsible-play centre for blocking, time-out, self-exclusion and confidential support. When population and release disagree, retain both observations, recheck Record the fieldwork frame and postpone any decision that depends on Define past-four-week participation. Review the account history on a fixed schedule rather than after a loss.