Deaths where gambling is mentioned in coroners’ reports, 2020 to 2026

FOI reference: FOI-2026-3463

You asked

I am writing to request updated information relating to gambling-related deaths, following on from your previous user-requested dataset which identified suicide records where gambling was mentioned in coroners’ reports using keyword searches.

Specifically, I would like to request:

1. Updated dataset (gambling-related mentions)

An updated version of the dataset identifying deaths where gambling is mentioned in coroners’ reports, using the same methodology previously applied (i.e. text search of coroners’ reports for keywords such as “gamble”, “gambling”, and “gambled”).

Please provide this for the period 1 January 2020 to 28 February 2026.

2. Expanded keyword dataset (including illegal gambling indicators)

Using the same methodology (text search of coroners’ narrative reports), I would also like to request a separate dataset or table where the search criteria are expanded to include terms that may indicate illegal or unregulated gambling activity.

For example, this could include (but not be limited to):

“illegal gambling”

“unlicensed gambling”

“offshore gambling”

“online casino”

“not on GamStop”

If these exact terms cannot be used, I would be grateful if you could apply the closest available equivalent terms used within your data systems.

3. Methodology and limitations

For both datasets, please provide:

Confirmation of the search methodology used

Any limitations on reliability or completeness

Any changes in method compared to the previous dataset provided

I understand that this data is based on text searches of coroners’ reports and may not represent a complete count of gambling-related harm, and I am content for appropriate caveats to be included.

I am not requesting any personal or identifiable information.

We said

Thank you for your request.  

The published figures for Number of suicides where the death certificate mentioned gamble or gambling, England and Wales, 2001 to 2016 were produced via our user requested data service. 

If you would like an update to this dataset, and a new dataset using the additional terms you have mentioned, we are able to create a custom output. Information on the number of deaths where gambling, gambled, gamble, and other associated terms listed in your request were mentioned on the death certificate for deaths registered between 2020 and 2026, along with other special extracts and tabulations of mortality data for England and Wales, are available to order, subject to legal frameworks, disclosure control, resources and agreements of costs. 

As this request uses data for deaths registered in 2025 and 2026, and all suicides are referred to a coroner for investigation, figures for 2025 and 2026 will be provisional as these deaths are subject to registration delays. More information on this can be found in our Impact of registration delays on mortality statistics dataset. 

Please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk to discuss this further. 

As this information is reasonably accessible via another route, even if only accessible on payment, Section 21(2)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) applies. 

Deaths registered as suicide that involved gambling or illegal gambling will be identified by searching the text recorded on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, together with any relevant information received from coroners' reports. Agreed search terms are applied consistently across these text fields to identify references to gambling. All cases identified through this text‑search process are then subject to a clerical check to confirm accuracy. 

Caution should be used when interpreting figures produced using this method, as although this will identify records where gambling was mentioned, the data are not considered completely reliable because the coroner will not always record detailed information regarding the deceased's history. Therefore, these figures may be an under count.