iGaming by the numbers.
The figures reporters, researchers and students reach for — each with its exact value, its primary source and a one-click citation. Independent and non-promotional: these are not the operator’s numbers. Always confirm against the primary source before publishing. 18+.Gambling harm & prevalence
How many are affected — the public-health picture.
5.5% of women and 11.9% of men. The Commission defines any-risk gambling as occasional experience of at least one behavioural symptom or adverse consequence, and states these estimates are likely conservative.
A global figure from the Commission's systematic review and meta-analysis, described as a conservative estimate.
This is the rate among people who use these specific high-frequency online products, not a population-wide rate. The Commission flags online casino and slots as the highest-risk formats.
Rate among people who use sports-betting products — lower than online casino/slots, but still markedly elevated among adolescents.
95% CI 2.2–3.2. PGSI 8+ indicates serious harms and likely loss of behavioural control. From the Gambling Commission's push-to-web GSGB method, which yields higher rates than the earlier telephone/in-person surveys and is NOT directly comparable to the old ~0.5% figure.
These at-risk bands sit below the problem-gambling threshold but still capture people experiencing some gambling-related harm.
Official participation headline from the GSGB; excluding lottery-only players gives a clearer picture of engaged gambling.
The odds & the house edge
What the maths actually costs the player.
Applies to almost all bets on a double-zero wheel — roughly double the single-zero game.
Standard single-zero edge; can be roughly halved on even-money bets where 'la partage' or 'en prison' rules apply.
Highly rule-dependent and commonly around 0.5%; 0.28% reflects favourable rules with optimal basic strategy, before any card counting.
The lowest-edge main bet in baccarat (player 1.24%, tie ~14.4%); includes the standard 5% commission on banker wins.
The range of available returns from a major manufacturer; the actual edge is set per machine and is not visible to the player.
For matching all five main numbers plus both Lucky Stars; overall odds of any prize are about 1 in 13.
For matching all six main numbers in the 6-from-59 format — exactly the combinatorial value C(59,6).
Citing iGamer
iGamer is built to be cited. Every figure across the portal carries a date and a primary-source link, the editorial line is independent and non-promotional, and entries are authored, not anonymous. When you quote a statistic, cite the primary source first and iGamer as where you found it — the “Cite figure” buttons above do exactly that.
Referencing iGamer in an article, paper or brief? We’d like to know — reach the editor, Vadym Zelinskyi. See also our method & sources.
These numbers move as new studies and regulator data land. Get a short, cited note when they do — independent, 18+, no hype.