Research findings reveal the significant impact of gambling on LGBTQ+ lives and underscore the urgent need for social support, community connection, and stronger regulation of gambling advertising.

Key findings of the research include:

  • LGBTQ+ individuals were slightly more likely than the general population to experience gambling harms (18% vs 15%) – despite participating in gambling less (59% compared with 62%) – but the difference was much higher for some subgroups.
  • Bisexual males were more likely to experience gambling-related harm, with 6% scoring in the ‘problem gambling’ range on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) – a measure used to assess the risk of gambling harm – compared to 3% in other LGBTQ+ groups.
  • LGBTQ+ individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds were three times more likely than white LGBTQ+ participants to experience ‘problem gambling’ (9% vs 3%).
  • Among those in the ‘problem gambling’ range: 84% hid their gambling, 80% used savings or borrowed money to fund it, 23% experienced relationship breakdowns, 16% engaged in criminal behaviour and 12% faced violence or abuse.
  • 32% of LGBTQ+ respondents gambled at least weekly, most commonly on online National Lottery tickets (37%) and scratch cards (23%).
  • LGBTQ+ people mainly gamble to try to win money (47%) or for excitement (32%). Gambling to cope with emotional distress was less common overall (4%), but higher among trans and non-binary people (9%).
  • Experiences of discrimination or discomfort with one’s LGBTQ+ identity increased the likelihood of gambling harms, highlighting the impact of social stressors.

The GambLGBTQ+ research output consists of a series of reports:

Report cover Phase 1 and 2, Findings from a Photovoice study, GambLGBTQ+Report cover reads Technical Report November 2025 Understanding Gambling Harms in LGBTQ+ communities

Report cover Phase 3, Findings from a Photovoice study, GambLGBTQ+

 

Lay summaries of these reports are available as follows:

Report cover Phase 1, Findings from a national survey, GambLGBTQ+Report cover Phase 2, Findings from an online community and in-depth interviews , GambLGBTQ+Report cover Phase 3, Findings from a Photovoice study, GambLGBTQ+

 

Videos of self-recorded material

Videos that are a compilation of self-recorded material submitted by participants during the online community phase of the research:

Photo Exhibition

An exhibition companion provides an overview of the photography exhibition that ran from 16 – 25 July 2025 that showcased the photos, narratives and music of participants from the photovoice phase of the project, along with a video and creative interpretation of qualitative data from Phase Two. A range of stakeholders – from gambling support organisations, LGBTQ+ health organisations and those interested in this research – were invited to a dissemination event where preliminary findings were presented across all three phases.

GambLGBTQ+ Photo Exhibition Companion

Poster reads GambLGBTQ+ Photography exhibition 16th July - 25th July 2025.

GambLGBTQ+ Edward Street Photography Exhibition.

 

Scoping review

We would like to highlight the previous scoping review that outlined the need for the GambLGBTQ+ research project.

A team of researchers at the University of Brighton previously conducted a review of current research on LGBTQ+ communities and gambling. The review highlighted the distinct need for further research that is focused on LGBTQ+ communities in Great Britain that can provide an understanding of how frequent gambling and harms associated with gambling are within LGBTQ+ communities and a more in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of those who have experienced harm from gambling. The report stated,

There is evidence of an additional burden and compounding gambling harms for some groups within the LGBTQ+ community. However, research on LGBTQ+ gambling harm remains distinctly limited, and is barely established in the UK. Even less is known about gambling harm for LGBTQ+ people where gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability and other factors intersect. Research demonstrating underlying drivers of gambling harm, the risk factors, the lived experience of gambling harm, as well as the needs of LGBTQ+ people who access support services, are all limited in the UK and further afield.

The scoping review underpins the importance of conducting the current GambLGBTQ+ project. The full report is available here hosted on the GambleAware website. GambleAware funded the work to carry out the review.