An estimated 1.4 million adults in Britain have a gambling problem, according to landmark figures released days after the chancellor hinted at plans to increase taxes on the £11.5bn betting and gaming industry.
The Gambling Commission’s annual survey found that 2.7% of adults scored 8 or above on the problem gambling severity index, a widely accepted measure analysing negative consequences of betting.
In previous years, the watchdog had warned against extrapolating that percentage to the general population. However, in a decision that puts the commission on a collision course with the sector it regulates, it has scrapped this advice after analysis of its methodology by a statistics expert.
That means the poll of more than 19,000 people…