UK Public Does Not Trust Gambling Companies, Wants Fewer Betting Shops

A new More in Common UK poll has gauged public perception of the gambling industry. According to a recent survey conducted by the think tank, the gambling industry does not inspire trust in the public. Only 25% of respondents said they had confidence in the industry, just 4% more than those who trusted tobacco. Trust in Gambling Industry Remains Low – Ahead ot Tobacco Interestingly, the respondents who said they had “great trust” in tobacco and gambling were 5% in both camps, with the remainder of the numbers suggesting “fair amount of trust.” More in Common UK senior research associate Charlie Buckley took the opportunity to present the survey’s findings at a fringe panel at the Labor Party Conference 2026. However, even among people who end up using gambling products, there is a distaste. Betting shops are described as a “blight” on the high street by visitors. Overall, 65% of members of the public wanted to see more regulation introduced over the gambling industry, a point that has raised hackles from industry types concerned not just about their profit margins but the rise of the black market. While the number of betting shops has been falling, the British public has become even more determined to have more of these venues ousted. As Buckley puts it, many people would rather see an empty shopping window than tolerate a betting shop. “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,” Buckley said. Fewer Betting Shops – More Gripes The survey also noted that to 63% of respondents, seeing more betting shops would be a sign of decline, whereas 6% said that it would be a sign of improvement. In general, support for expanding the gambling industry plateaued below 10% across various parties’ votes. The only exception was Labor’s base, where 12% of supporters were in favor of expanding the gambling industry as well. These findings come at a time when the industry has been shedding jobs, with Entain, Evoke, and Betfred among some of the well-represented companies in Britain to have done so in recent weeks and months. Even bet365, a privately held betting and gaming behemoth operating out of Stoke-on-Trent, announced layoffs affecting its home base. While the public remains skeptical towards the regulated sector, licensed operators are increasingly struggling to channelize against the black market, which is reportedly gaining ground in the UK and is projected to continue growing.