UK Adults Show Steady Sports Betting Plans in Latest National Survey

A YouGov survey commissioned by OLBG polled more than 2,100 UK adults and captured current habits along with future intentions around sports betting. Fieldwork took place on 17 and 18 November 2025 with a weighted sample of 2,108 adults aged 18 and over. The results provide a snapshot of monthly participation rates, regional differences, and the events that draw the strongest interest ahead of 2026. Nine percent of adults reported placing sports bets at least once a month during 2025. That figure sits alongside an overall 18 percent who said they planned to place at least one sports bet in 2026. Intent levels therefore remained unchanged from the previous measurement, even as several major tournaments approach.

Regional Differences in Planned Activity

Northern Ireland recorded the highest share of adults expecting to bet on sports in 2026, reaching 26 percent. Other regions posted lower proportions, yet the national total held at the same 18 percent level noted earlier. The survey therefore shows clear geographic variation while the overall UK intention figure stayed flat. Observers note that these regional patterns align with existing differences in sports culture and event popularity across the four nations. Data from the same poll indicates that interest does not translate uniformly into monthly activity, since only nine percent nationally reported betting that frequently in 2025.

Events Drawing the Most Attention

The Grand National emerged as the single most popular betting occasion, cited by between 49 and 51 percent of respondents. That horse racing event outranked other fixtures in the responses collected during November 2025. The FIFA World Cup followed as the leading anticipated event for 2026, with interest levels ranging from 34 to 43 percent depending on the exact question wording. Those figures illustrate how certain annual and quadrennial competitions continue to concentrate betting attention. The survey captured responses before the full schedule details for 2026 were confirmed, yet the World Cup still attracted the strongest forward-looking mentions.

Stability in Overall Intentions

The 18 percent planning a sports bet in 2026 matches the proportion recorded in earlier waves of the same research series. Researchers therefore describe the market as steady rather than expanding or contracting sharply. Monthly participation at nine percent provides a baseline against which future changes can be measured once 2026 events conclude. The poll also collected demographic breakdowns, although the headline numbers already show consistent intent across the adult population. Because the sample was weighted to reflect national demographics, the results offer a representative view of how UK adults view their own betting plans.

Methodology and Scope

YouGov conducted the fieldwork over two days in mid-November 2025 and applied standard weighting procedures to the 2,108 completed responses. The questions focused specifically on sports betting frequency and event-specific intentions rather than broader gambling activity. OLBG published the full set of findings on its site, allowing direct comparison with previous survey editions. Those methodological details matter because they establish the reliability of the regional and event-based rankings. The same approach has been used in prior years, which supports the observation that overall intent has not shifted.

Looking Ahead to 2026

With the FIFA World Cup scheduled for 2026 and the Grand National returning to its usual spring slot, the survey supplies a pre-event benchmark. Northern Ireland's elevated planning rate of 26 percent offers one regional data point that future studies may track for change. The national 18 percent figure meanwhile supplies a simple reference line for measuring whether actual participation meets, exceeds, or falls short of stated intentions once the events take place. The poll results therefore function as a factual baseline rather than a forecast. Subsequent waves of the same research will show whether the steady intent recorded in late 2025 translates into higher or lower volumes during the major competitions of 2026.

Conclusion

The YouGov survey commissioned by OLBG supplies concrete percentages on current habits and forward plans. Nine percent bet monthly in 2025, 18 percent intend to bet in 2026, Northern Ireland leads regionally at 26 percent, the Grand National tops event popularity, and the FIFA World Cup leads anticipated interest. These figures stand as documented outcomes from fieldwork completed in November 2025 and remain available for reference as the 2026 calendar unfolds.