Gibraltar’s Gambling Surge: Nearly 80% of Residents Say They Bet

A recent survey in Gibraltar, the British overseas territory, shows just how deeply gambling is embedded in local life. According to the Gibraltar Chronicle, 78% of adults in Gibraltar say they take part in some form of gambling — a striking contrast to the 48% participation rate across the UK.

The state lottery ranks as the most common form of play, yet many locals don’t even see it as gambling. The data shows that while 51.3% of respondents said they play the lottery, fewer than half of them considered it part of the gambling landscape. Still, Gibraltar’s Gambling Commissioner classifies lotteries as gambling.

Online gambling is also widespread. About one in three respondents said they hold at least one betting account, and some admitted to juggling as many as eight different profiles across gaming platforms.

Despite the high rate of participation, only 5.3% said they were concerned about someone they knew gambling. Still, the survey highlights rising local anxiety over the growing exposure of young people to gambling, especially through loot boxes in video games (virtual containers containing unknown in advance but paid game items).

Gibraltar’s gambling industry is a core part of the territory’s economy. The gambling sector accounts for roughly 25% of local jobs, with residents participating not only as players but also as employees powering the industry.