TLDR
- Only 25% of people in the UK say they trust the gambling industry, according to a survey by think tank More in Common UK.
- Gambling ranked just above tobacco, which was trusted by 21% of respondents.
- 65% of the public wants more regulation of the gambling sector.
- 63% said more betting shops would signal a decline in their community, while only 6% saw them as an improvement.
- The survey comes as Entain, Evoke, Betfred and Bet365 have cut jobs and licensed operators warn about the black market.
Public trust in gambling companies in the UK remains low, according to a new survey from the think tank More in Common UK. Only 25% of people said they trust the gambling sector.
Most people surveyed also want tighter rules and fewer betting shops on their local high streets.
Charlie Buckley, a Senior Research Associate at More in Common UK, shared the results at a fringe panel during the Labour Party Conference 2026. The research looked at how the public views gambling companies, betting shops and the wider industry.
Trust in Gambling Close to Tobacco
The gambling sector ranked only slightly above tobacco in public trust. Tobacco was trusted by 21% of people surveyed, four percentage points below gambling.
Just 5% of respondents said they had a great deal of trust in gambling companies. The same share said they had a great deal of trust in tobacco firms.
The rest of those who expressed confidence in either sector said they had a fair amount of trust. The survey did not say how many people took part.
Buckley said the low confidence is not limited to people who do not gamble. Some people who visit betting shops still view them negatively.
These visitors described betting shops as a blight on the high street. The comments reflect wider concerns about how visible the shops are in local shopping areas.
The poll also found that 65% of the public wants more regulation of the gambling sector. That points to support for new rules on operators and their products.
Public Wants Fewer Betting Shops
The number of betting shops in Britain has fallen in recent years. Even so, many people said they would like to see fewer of them in their communities.
Buckley said gambling venues have become more noticeable to some members of the public. He suggested the rise of Adult Gaming Centres may have played a part in this view.
According to the survey, people would rather see an empty shopfront in their area than a gambling venue. A total of 63% said more betting shops would signal a decline in their community.
Only 6% said more betting shops would be an improvement.
Support for expanding the gambling industry stayed below 10% among supporters of most political parties. Labour supporters were the exception, with 12% in favor of growth.
The survey comes as several gambling companies have cut jobs in recent weeks and months. Entain, Evoke and Betfred are among the firms reported to have reduced staff.
Bet365, a privately held company based in Stoke-on-Trent, has also announced layoffs at its home base.
Licensed operators continue to raise concerns about the growth of the black market. They say it remains hard to steer players toward licensed services and away from unregulated sites.
