UK Poll Finds 25% Public Confidence in Gambling Industry, With Strong Calls to Reduce Betting Shops
More in Common UK poll shows 25% public trust in UK gambling, just 4% above tobacco levels, with 65% wanting more regulation. 63% see added betting shops as decline; support for industry expansion is below 10%. Major operators have cut jobs while the black market grows.
SCCG Take — The trust gap heightens regulatory risk for licensed operators and could accelerate black market gains. Addressing perception is now central to sustaining viable competition.
A new poll by More in Common UK has gauged public attitudes toward the gambling sector. Only 25% of respondents said they had confidence in the industry, just 4% more than those who trusted tobacco. The survey found 5% of respondents held “great trust” in both gambling and tobacco.
Charlie Buckley, senior research associate at More in Common UK, presented the findings at a fringe panel at the Labor Party Conference 2026. Even among those who use gambling products, betting shops are viewed as a “blight” on the high street.
Declining Trust Drives Demand for More Regulation
65% of the public wants to see more regulation introduced. As the number of betting shops has fallen, opposition has intensified. Many would rather see an empty shop front than a gambling venue.
Buckley said: “Britons say they seem more noticeable than before, perhaps because of the emergence of Adult Gaming Centres. As a result, the public would rather see an empty shop front on their local high street than a gambling shop.”
63% of respondents view more betting shops as a sign of decline, against 6% who see it as an improvement. Support for expanding the gambling industry stayed below 10% across most voter bases, reaching 12% among Labor supporters.
Public Perception and Operator Challenges
These results come as Entain, Evoke, Betfred and bet365 have announced layoffs in recent weeks and months. Licensed operators are finding it harder to compete with the black market, which is gaining ground.
As reported by GamblingNews, the poll lays bare a trust deficit that weighs on the regulated sector. Further regulation may protect public sentiment but risks pushing activity toward unlicensed channels. Operators and regulators will need to weigh enforcement measures against the potential contraction of legitimate business.
Reporting: GamblingNews
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
Subscribe →